IC-NRLF 


CCU*. P. SIDNEY  POST.  LIEUT. COL. C.H.  FREDRICK 


LIEUT. COL. CLAYTON  HALL  . 


MAJ.J.M.  STOOKEY 


D*  H.J.IVIAYNARD 


AD JT.  FRANK  CLARK. 


CAPT.MINNETT. 


CAPT.J.C.  HENDERSON 


J.itlibv  WMRRADEN  &  C?   lud1,uu*Dm 


THE  HISTORY 


OF  THE 


FIFTY-NINTH  REGIMENT 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS, 


OR  A  THREE  TEARS'  CAMPAIGN  THROUGH  MISSOURI,  ARKANSAS,  MISSIS- 
SIPPI,  TENNESSEE  AND  KENTUCKY,  WITH  A  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE 
COUNTRY,  TOWNS,   SKIRMISHES   AND    BATTLES  — INCIDENTS, 
CASUALTIES    AND    ANECDOTES   MET    WITH    ON    THE 
WAY;  AND  EMBELLISHED  WITH   TWENTY-FOUR 
LITHOGRAPHED  PORTRAITS  OF  THE  OF 
FICERS   OF    THE    REGIMENT. 


BY  DR.  D.  LATHROP. 


HALL  &  HUTCHIXSOlSr, 

PRINTERS   AND   BINDERS,    INDIANAPOLIS,    IND . 
1865. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
Bixty-nve, 

BY  DR.  DAVID  LATHROP, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the  District  of 

Indiana. 


HALL   *   UUTCHINSON,    STEREOTYPER8,    PRINTERS   AND   BINDERS. 


INTRODUCTION. 


Early  in  the  month  of  May,  1861,  C.  H.  Frederick 
and  David  McGibbon,  two  prominent  citizens  of  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  called  on  General  Lyon,  and  proffered  to 
raise  a  regiment  of  infantry,  to  serve  for  three  years, 
or  during  the  war.  C.  H.  Frederick,  having  previously 
served  his  country  in  a  military  capacity,  and  being 
familiar  with  military  tactics,  was  deemed  by  General 
Lyon,  a  very  suitable  person  to  engage  in  the  under 
taking,  and  immediately  authorized  to  recruit  and  or 
ganise  a  regiment,  and  to  have  command  of  the  same. 

Colonel  Frederick,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion, 
was  engaged  in  a  lucrative  business  in  St.  Louis,  but  at 
the  call  of  his  country  he  sacrificed  his  profitable  inter- 
ets,  and  gave  his  energies  to  the  preservation  of  the 
Union.  After  an  immense  amount  of  difficulty,  Colonel 
Frederick  and  his  co-worker,  Major  McGibbon,  work 
ing  night  and  day,  succeeded  in  enlisting  enough  loyal 
friends  in  and  around  St.  Louis,  to  enable  them  to  ac 
complish  their  purpose.  By  the  middle  of  June  three 
companies,  and  a  nucleus  of  the  fourth,  was  collected 
and  rendezvoused  at  the  St.  Louis  arsenal.  Captains 

Hale,  Renfrew,  Yeatch,  and  Elliott  commanding. 

(3) 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

About  this  time  Captain  S.  W.  Kelty  was  induced  to 
become  a  recruiting  officer,  to  assist  in  filling  up  the 
regiment.  By  the  21th  of  June  he  had  recruited  sev 
enty  men  in  his  own  neighborhood,  and  on  that  day  an 
election  was  held,  and  S.  W.  Kelly  was  unanimously 
elected  Captain,  John  Kelly  First  Lieutenant,  and  II. 
J.  Maynard  Second  Lieutenant.  On  the  6th  day  of 
August,  1861,  Captain  Kelly  numbered  on  the  muster  roll 
of  his  company,  (F,)  at  the  St.  Louis  Arsenal,  seventy- 
one  men  ;  and  through  his  influence  three  other  com 
panies  had  joined  in  the  organization  of  the  regiment. 
Captain  Stookey,  of  Belleville,  111.,  had  recruited  a  large 
company  of  men  for  the  service,  and  was  now  induced 
to  join  this  regiment,  thus  making  nine  companies  in 
rendezvous  at  the  Arsenal  on  the  6th  day  of  August. 

As  soon  as  the  first  three  companies  were  formed, 
and  before  they  were  uniformed,  they  were  sent  down 
to  Cape  Girardeau,  Mo.,  that  place  being  threatened  by 
the  enemy,  to  assist  in  building  fortifications,  As  soon 
as  the  next  three  companies  were  mustered  in,  and  be 
fore  they  were  uniformed,  they  were  ordered  to  Pilot 
Knob,  Mo.  Here  they  underwent  great  hardship,  not 
having  uniforms  or  blankets,  and  scarcely  anything  to 
make  them  comfortable.  The  other  three  companies  on 
their  arrival  at  St.  Louis,  were  sent  with  Colonel  Fred 
erick  up  the  South-west  branch  of  the  Pacific  railroad, 
to  protect  the  bridges,  etc.,  in  order  to  keep  that  road 
open  for  the  retreat  of  General  Lyon's  army  after  their 
defeat  at  Wilson's  Creek,  Mo.  This  work  being  accom- 


INTRODUCTION.  5 

plished,  Colonel  Frederick  returned  to  St.  Louis,  and 
after  overcoming  many  difficulties  succeeded  in  getting 
the  nine  companies  back  to  the  arsenal.  The  next 
thing  to  be  done,  was  to  have  them  uniformed  and 
drilled.  This,  also,  was  perseveringly  and  successfully 
attended  to  by  the  Colonel  and  Major  McGibbon. 

The  men  and  the  officers  with  one  or  two  exceptions, 
were  sadly  deficient  in  a  knowledge  of  military  tactics 
or  drills,  and  Colonel  Frederick  consequently  took  upon 
himself  the  task  of  drilling  the  regiment  daily.  In  a 
short  space  of  time  he  succeeded  in  making  them  quite 
well  acquainted  with  company  and  battalion  drills. 

About  the  1st  of  September  1861,  Colonel  Frederick 
and  Major  McGibbon,  in  pjder  to  promote  the  welfare  of 
the  regiment  and  secure  good  to  the  Union  cause,  ten 
dered  the  command  to  Captain  J.  C.  Kelton,  then  A. 
A.  G.  for  General  Fremont.  Captain  Kelton,  after  a 
time,  accepted  the  command  with  the  proviso  that 
Frederick  should  have  the  Lieut.  Colonelcy,  and  Mc 
Gibbon  the  Majority.  This  arrangement  was  speedily 
confirmed  by  an  election  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment, 
and  the  organization  became  complete, — one  company 
only  being  required  to  make  a  full  regiment.  Upon 
Colonel  Kelton  assuming  command,  he  procured  the 
Tenth  Company,  viz.  Company  K,  Captain  Snyder,1 
of  Chicago,  Ills.,  commanding,  and  this  completed  the 
Xinth  Missouri,  Volunteer  Resriment. 

'  O 

Company  K,  was  organized  in  the  city  of  Chicago  in 


6  INTRODUCTION. 

the  month  of  September,  1861.  A  majority  of  the  men 
were  recruited  by  Lieutenant  Abram  J.  Davids.  It  was 
originally  intended  as  a  company  of  sappers  and  miners, 
to  be  attached  to  Bissell's  Engineer  Regiment  of  the 
West.  At  least  that  was  the  inducement  held  out  to 
the  men.  On  the  5th  of  September  the  company  was 
not  quite  full,  and  its  services  being  needed  immediately, 
forty-five  men  were  taken  from  the  Forty-Second  Illi 
nois,  (then  organizing  at  Chicago),  and  enrolled  with 
the  company  on  its  muster  into  service  on  the  6th  day 
of  September,  making  an  aggregate  of  ninety-seven  men. 
Their  camp  equipage  was  drawn  on  the  night  of  the 
6th,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  marched  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Henry  !N".  Snyder,  to  the  Chicago, 
Alton  and  St.  Louis  depot,  and  took  the  cars  for  St. 
Louis.  They  arrived  at  Illinoistown  the  evening  of 
the  same  day,  and  in  the  morning  crossed  the  Mississippi, 
and  marched  through  St.  Louis  to  Benton  barracks; 
they  here  learned  that  they  were  to  be  attached  to  the 
Ninth  Regiment  Missouri  Volunteer  Infantry.  It  caused 
considerable  dissatisfaction  in  the  company,  not  that 
they  had  any  objection  to  the  regiment,  but  they  wished 
to  enter  the  arm  of  service  for  which  they  were  re 
cruited.  Notwithstanding,  there  was  no  disobedience 
of  orders. 

On  the  2d  of  September  they  were  armed  with  Har 
per's  Ferry  rifles,  and  well  equipped  throughout;  no 
company  in  the  service  ever  started  out  better  supplied 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

with  oranance  and  camp  equipage.  On  the  afternoon 
of  the  22d  of  September  they  left  Benton  barracks, 
inarched  to  the  depot,  and  took  the  cars  en  route  for 
Jefferson  City,  where  they  arrived  the  next  evening. 
They  joined  the  Ninth  Missouri  on  the  following  morn 
ing,  and  embarked  with  them  on  the  steamer  War 
Eagle,  September  30th,  bound  for  Boonville. 

On  the  22d  of  September,  1861,  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  and  on  the  26th  again 
ordered  to  Boonville,  Mo.  After  remaining  in  camp  a 
short  time,  Colonel  Kelton  was  placed  in  command  of  a 
brigade,  under  General  Pope.  The  brigade  consisted  of 
the  Ninth  Missouri,  Lieut.  Colonel  Frederick,  com 
manding;  Thirty-Seventh  Illinois,  Colonel  Julius  White, 
commanding,  and  the  Fifth  Iowa,  Colonel  Worthing- 
ton,  commanding. 

While  at  the  St.  Louis  Arsenal,  two  companies  under 
the  command  of  Lieut.  Colonel  C.  H.  Frederick,  were 
sent  by  Colonel  F.  P.  Blair,  up  the  Mississippi  river  to 
Howell's  Island,  where  he  captured  five  valuable  steam 
boats  from  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  who  were  about  to 
use  them  to  cross  their  forces  to  the  south  side,  to  join 
the  rebel  General  Price.  The  total  value  of  property 
thus  secured  from  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  amounted  to 
two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  He  also  skir 
mished  over  the  island  in  search  of  a  rebel  camp,  and 
by  this  movement  it  was  effectually  broken  up.  Those 
two  companies  were  composed  of  picked  men  from  the 
different  companies  of  the  regiment. 


HISTORY 


OF   THE 


FIFTY-NINTH  REGIMENT, 

ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  Fifty  Ninth  Illinois  Kegiment  entered  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  on  the  6th  day  of  September,  1861, 
under  the  cognomen  of  Ninth  Missouri,  at  St.  Louis, 
in  that  State.  At  that  time  the  State  of  Illinois  had 
filled  her  quota  of  volunteers,  and  would  not  receive  the 
services  of  the  patriotic  young  men  who  had  collected 
themselves  together  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  the 
glorious  Union,  then  in  danger  of  being  severed. 

The  call  of  the  President  for  seventy-five  thousand 
volunteers,  as  well  as  that  for  forty-two  thousand,  had 
been  so  speedily  filled  by  men  whose  business  engage 
ments,  and  perhaps  entire  want  of  business,  permitted 
to  enter  the  service  without  much  sacrifice  on  theii 
part,  excluded,  for  the  time  being,  these  noble  men 
from  entering  the  service  in  the  name  of  their  own 
State.  Although  disappointed,  they  were  still  deter 
mined  to  devote  their  services  to  their  country  in  some 
useful  field  of  labor.  Missouri  was  the  'most  convenient 

(9) 


10  FIFTY-NIISTTH   REGIMENT 

and  available  State  for  this  purpose,  and  was  willing  to 
accept  of  their  aid,  and  hence  the  companies  were  or 
ganized  into  the  Ninth  Eegiment  of  Missouri  Volun 
teers,  on  the  6th  of  September,  1861. 

General  Fremont  was  in  command  of  the  department 
of  Missouri,  and  as  soon  as  the  regiment  was  fully 
equiped,  he  ordered  that  it  should  report  to  General 
Pope,  at  Jefferson  City,  Mo.  In  the  best  of  spirits  the 
men  left  the  old  barracks  and  marched  to  the  river  for 
embarkation.  The  old  and  rickety  steamer  War  Eagle 
lay  in  waiting,  with  steam  up,  to  receive  them.  A  very 
pleasant  and  lively  time  was  passed  in  going  up,  and  on 
their  arrival  at  Jefferson  City,  a  pretty  camping  ground 
received  them,  to  await  further  orders.  Here  the  regi 
ment  lay  in  camp  until  the  30th  of  September,  when 
they  were  again  embarked  for  farther  up  the  river. 

At  Jefferson  City  the  regiment  was  joined  by  a  pio 
neer  company  of  ninety-seven  men,  and  by  a  squad  of 
twenty  men  recruited  by  Captain  Kelly,  of  company  F, 
who  fell  into  ranks  as  the  regiment  was  re-embarking 
on  the  same  old  War  Eagle,  for  "up  the  river." 

The  embarkation  of  a  regiment,  was,  at  that  early 
day  of  the  war,  an  exciting  scene.  Never  before  had 
such  scenes  been  witnessed  by  the  citizens  of  our  inland 
river  towns,  nor  had  the  men  of  the  regiment  ever  be 
fore  exhibited  themselves  to  the  gaze  of  the  populace 
in  such  a  display  as  they  now  did.  The  regiment  was 
first  marched  in  column  down  to  the  wharf,  and  ordered 
to  stack  arms.  Then,  as  the  way  was  open,  one  com 
pany  at  a  time  was  marched  to  the  boat  and  took  quar 
ters  as  directed.  The  quarters  of  each  soldier  consisted 
of  just  room  enough  to  stand,  or  sit  upon  his  knapsack 
on  the  floor,  selected  somewhere  within  the  region  of 
his  own  company.  The  regiment  as  it  marched  to  the 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  11 

landing,  to  the  time  of  the  fife  and  drum,  attracted 
the  notice  of  the  whole  city.  Its  appearance  was  really 
captivating.  The  uniform  being  all  new  and  unsoiled, 
and  consisting  of  a  closely  fitting  jacket  of  fine  gray 
cloth,  and  pants  of  the  same  material,  looked  exceed 
ingly  neat  and  pleasing  to  the  eye,  and  their  knapsacks, 
cartridge  boxes  and  guns,  all  new,  and  glistering  in  the 
sunshine,  caused  a  sensation  indescribable.  No  regi 
ment  has  ever  entered  the  service  with  more  eclat  than 
the  Ninth  Missouri.  The  men,  wagons,  horses  and 
mules,  all  being  huddled  indiscriminately  on  board,  the 
bell  rang,  and  the  old  boat  steamed  up  the  turbid  Mis 
souri.  During  the  night  the  boat  rounded  to  at  Boon- 
ville,  Mo.,  and  the  regiment  went  into  camp  here  for 
fourteen  days,  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  supplies  and 
fitting  up  for  a  campaign  into  the  interior. 

Boonville  is  a  pretty  town,  of  perhaps  one  thousand 
inhabitants,  and  is  situated  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Missouri  River.  It  seems  to  be  quite  a  flourishing 
place,  and  has  something  of  an  inland  trade.  The 
country  in  the  vicinity  is  good  and  under  good  cultiva 
tion,  and  the  improvements  on  the  adjoining  farms  are 
excellent.  The  land  is  considerably  broken,  but  very 
productive.  It  is  a  most  splendid  fruit  country.  No 
country  in  the  world  can  produce  larger  and  finer 
apples  and  peaches,  than  that  around  Boonville,  as  the 
soldiers  of  the  Ninth  can  testify.  It  is  also  a  fine  grape 
region  and  can  boast  of  many  fine  vineyards.  "Wine  is 
made  here  to  some  extent,  as  the  Ninth  can  also  testify, 
for  they  had  the  pleasure  of  tasting  some  of  it,  as  well 
as  having  plenty  of  fruit  while  in  camp  here.  A  ma 
jority  of  the  citizens  are  professedly  friends  to  the  cause 
of  the  Union,  and  are  disposed  to  treat  the  soldier 
kindly  and  with  hospitality,  so  long,  at  least,  as  the 


12  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

Union  army  is  in  the  neighborhood.  There  are  some 
who  turn  the  cold  shoulder  and  show  a  disposition  to 
insult  and  annoyance,  but  they  are  more  numerous  in 
the  country  than  in  town,  and  this  is  more  to  our  liking 
than  otherwise;  for  it  is  but  little  we  need  from  the 
citizens  in  town,  but  from  the  country  we  need  mules, 
horses  and  forage,  and  confiscation  is  now  the  order  of 
the  day. 

As  soon  as  the  regiment  had  comfortably  arranged 
camp,  a  detail  was  made  to  go  into  the  country  pros 
pecting  for  contraband  stock.  There  were  twelve  or 
fifteen  wagons  to  each  regiment  to  be  furnished  with 
mules  or  horses,  at  the  rate  of  six  to  a  team.  The  boys 
were  not  many  days  in  finding  stock  enough  to  supply 
the  demand,  and  in  doing  so  they  found  some  amuse 
ment  for  themselves,  and  received  many  deep  and  bitter 
curses  from  the  owners  of  the  stock. 

Some  four  miles  down  the  river,  lived  a  wealthy  old 
rebel  sympathiser,  who  possessed  several  mules  and 
some  fine  horses,  which  the  boys  took  a  fancy  to,  and 
concluded  they  must  have.  The  old  gentleman  stub 
bornly  refused  to  give  them  up,  and  made  threats  to 
shoot  any  one  who  attempted  to  interfere  with  his 
property.  The  prospecting  party  were  too  few  in  num 
ber  to  catch  the  mules  and  bring  them  off,  so  they 
started  one  of  their  number  to  camp  after  reinforce 
ments,  while  the  others  remained  to  guard  the  stock, 
and  amuse  the  old  secesh  with  some  of  their  Union 
arguments.  The  old  man,  at  first,  seemed  very  uneasy, 
but  after  a  time  quieted  himself  so  as  to  apparently 
enjoy  the  society  of  the  boys  very  much.  Thus  time 
passed  until  night  approached,  and  supper  was  an 
nounced.  The  boys  partook  of  the  bounties  of  the 
table,  and  again  engaged  the  old  gentleman  in  conver- 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  13 

sation,  and  thus  the  hours  went  by  till  bed  time.  An 
invitation  to  retire  was  proffered  them,  which  they  po 
litely  refused,  preferring  rather  to  bunk  it  on  the  floor, 
where  they  were,  than  to  indulge  the  luxury  of  sheets 
and  feathers.  If  the  old  gentleman  entertained  any 
suspicions  of  roguery  on  the  part  of  the  boys,  he  gave 
no  indications  of  the  fact,  but  quietly  wished  them  a 
good  night's  rest,  and  withdrew  to  his  own  apartment 
for  the  night.  About  three  in  the  morning,  the  rein 
forcements  arrived  from  camp,  and  quietly  proceeded 
to  let  out  and  drive  the  mules  off  to  town,  while  the 
boys  on  guard  bridled  and  saddled  four  good  horses 
and  joined  the  detachment.  Early  in  the  morning, 
the  old  farmer  presented  himself  to  Colonel  Kelton 
with  his  complaints.  Patiently  the  Colonel  listened 
to  him,  and  then  gave  him  vouchers  for  his  confis 
cated  property,  to  be  paid  if  he  should  prove  himself 
a  faithful,  good  citizen  of  the  United  States.  Thus, 
in  the  course  of  ten  days,  was  the  wagons  all  supplied 
with  good  teams. 

Other  preparations  for  a  campaign  being  nearly  com 
pleted,  the  regiment  was  in  daily  anticipation  of  a 
move.  The  sick  were  sent  to  town  to  be  left  at 
hospital.  Dr.  H.  J.  Maynard,  First  Assistant  Surgeon 
of  the  regiment,  was  assigned  to  the  duty  of  fitting  up 
quarters  for  their  reception,  and  with  energy  of  purpose 
and  goodness  of  heart  he  performed  the  duty.  Fifty 
of  the  regiment  were  unfitted  to  start  on  the  campaign 
on  account  of  sickness.  There  were  many  cases  of 
measles.  This  disease  had  attacked  some  of  the  boys 
at  Jefferson  City;  three  of  whom  were  left  in  hos 
pital  there.  Many  of  the  cases  left  in  charge  of  Dr. 
Maynard,  were  critical,  but  by  his  kind  care  and  good 
treatment,  speedily  recovered. 


14         FIFTY-NINTH   KEGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

The  regimient  was  now  in  good  condition  for  a  march, 
and  the  boys  all  anxious  to  try  the  realities  of  a  cam 
paign.  The  weather  was  delightful  and  the  roads 
good.  Price  and  his  army  was  somewhere  in  the 
country,  and  every  one  desired  to  be  after  him.  Dril 
ling  had  been  faithfully  practiced  since  coming  to  Boon- 
ville,  and  the  men  began  to  feel  like  old  soldiers  in  mil 
itary  tactics,  and  were  confident  if  they  could  overtake 
Price  he  would  be  defeated,  and  the  war  in  Missouri 
would  be  speedily  terminated.  Orders  finally  came  to 
march,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  12th  of  October,  all 
was  hurry  and  confusion  in  preparation  for  the  start. 
Tents  were  to  be  struck  and  the  wagons  loaded.  Knap 
sacks  were  to  be  packed  and  comfortably  fitted  to  the 
back;  haversacks  to  be  filled  with  plenty  of  rations; 
wild  mules  to  be  caught  from  the  corral  and  hitched  to 
the  wagons;  and  last,  though  not  least,  pretty  apple 
girls  and  wash  women  to  be  settled  with  before  leaving. 
All  was  accomplished  in  due  time,  and  about  noon  the 
brigade  moved  out. 

Three  regiments  composed  the  brigade:  the  Ninth 
Missouri,  the  Fifth  Iowa  and  the  Thirty-seventh  Il 
linois — three  as  good  regiments  as  ever  shouldered 
a  musket,  Colonel  Kelton  was  in  command  of  the 
brigade. 

While  in  camp  here,  two  boys  who  had  joined  the 
regiment  at  St.  Louis,  deserted,  and  were  never  heard 
of.  Their  names  are  now  forgotten,  as  they  should  be, 
and  they  themselves  are  now  perhaps,  if  living,  no  more 
than  wandering  vagabonds. 


CHAPTER    II. 


On  Sunday,  the  12th  day  of  October,  1861,  the  bri 
gade  bid  adieu  to  the  attractions  and  comforts  of  civil 
ized  society,  for  the  long  period  of  three  years  or  during 
the  war.  Little  did  they  think,  as  they  marched 
through  the  streets  of  Boonville,  that  it  would  require 
three  years  of  sacrifice  for  the  government  of  the 
United  States  to  put  down  so  insignificant  a  rebellion 
as  that  which  was  now  raging  through  its  borders. 
They  doubted  not  of  the  ability  of  our  armies  now  in 
Missouri,  to  drive  Price  from  the  State,  and  restore 
peace  in  a  few  months.  Their  confidence  in  Fremont, 
in  their  own  commanders  and  in  themselves  was  un 
bounded.  Their  belief  that  the  rebels  would  not  with 
stand  an  equal  contest,  was  well  founded  and  did  not 
diminish  their  ardor  or  their  hopes  of  a  speedy  termi 
nation  of  the  rebellion.  They  looked  forward  to  a  cam 
paign  of  a  few  months  duration,  and  then  to  a  return 
to  their  homes,  with  peace  attending  them  on  the  way. 
But  how  sadly  were  they  to  be  disappointed!  They 
supposed  the  policy  upon  which  the  war  was  to  be  con 
ducted  was  fully  established,  and  that  all  there  was  to 
do  was  to  whip  out  the  rebels,  who  were  at  this  time  in 
arms  against  them.  They  did  not  anticipate  that  time, 
as  it  passed,  would  develop  new  schemes  and  new  pol 
icies  until  the  whole  became  entirely  revolutionized, 
and  magnified  into  the  most  terrible  rebellion  the  world 

(15) 


16  FIFTY-NINTH   KEGIMENT 

ever  witnessed.  They  did  not  think  that  while  they 
were  going  to  battle  with  the  enemy  in  their  front,  the 
Government  at  Washington  was  changing  its  policy,  so 
that  instead  of  one  they  would  have  ten  rebels  to  fight, 
and  instead  of  a  six  months  campaign  they  would  have 
a  five  years  war.  They  had  read  the  closing  words  of 
the  President's  inaugural  address,  to-wit:  "Physically 
speaking,  we  can  not  separate.  We  can  not  remove 
our  respective  sections  from  each  other,  nor  build  an 
impassable  wall  between  them.  A  husband  and  wife 
may  be  divorced  and  go  out  of  the  presence  and  beyond 
the  reach  of  each  other;  but  the  different  parts  of  our 
country  can  not  do  this.  They  can  not  but  remain  face 
to  face;  and  intercourse,  either  amicable  or  hostile, 
must  continue  between  them.  Is  it  possible,  then,  to 
make  that  intercourse  more  advantageous  or  more  sat 
isfactory  after  separation  than  before?  Can  aliens  make 
treaties  easier  than  friends  can  make  laws  ?  Can  trea 
ties  be  more  faithfully  enforced  between  aliens,  than 
laws  can  among  friends?  Suppose  you  go  to  war;  you 
can  not  fight  always,  and  when,  after  much  loss  on 
both  sides,  and  no  gain  on  either,  you  cease  fighting, 
the  identical  questions,  as  to  terms:  of  intercourse,  are 
again  upon  you. 

"To  the  extent  of  my  ability  I  shall  take  care,  as 
the  Constitution  itself  expressly  enjoins  upon  me,  that 
the  laws  of  the  Union  be  faithfully  executed  in  all  the 
States.  Doing  this  I  deem  to  be  only  a  simple  duty  on 
my  part.  I  shall  perfectly  perform  it,  so  far  as  is  prac 
ticable,  unless  my  rightful  masters,  the  American  peo 
ple,  shall  withhold  the  requisition,  or,  in  some  authori 
tative  manner,  direct  the  contrary.  I  trust  this  will 
not  be  regarded  as  a  menace,  but  only  as  the  declared 
purpose  of  the  Union,  that  it  will  constitutionally  de- 


ILLINOIS   VOLNNTEERS.  17 

feud  and  maintain  itself.  In  doing  this  there  need  be 
no  bloodshed  or  violence,  and  there  shall  be  none,  un 
less  it  is  forced  upon  the  national  authority.  The 
power  confided  to  me  will  be  used  to  hold,  occupy  and 
possess  the  property  and  places  belonging  to  the  gov 
ernment,  and  collect  the  duties  and  imports.  But  be 
yond  what  may  be  necessary  for  these  objects,  there  will  be 
no  invasion — no  using  of  force  against  or  among  the  peo 
ple  anywhere. 

"In  your  hands,  my  dissatisfied  fellow-countrymen, 
and  not  in  mine,  is  the  momentous  issue  of  civil  war. 
You  have  no  oath  registered  in  Heaven  to  destroy  the 
government :  while  I  shall  have  the  most  solemn  one 
to  preserve,  protect  and  defend  it."  And  they  had  all 
confidence  in  the  promises  of  the  President,  that  the 
"laws  of  the  Union  should  be  faithfully  executed  in  all 
the  States,"  and  that  the  power  confided  to  him  would 
be  used  to  "  hold,  occupy  and  possess  the  property  and 
places  belonging  to  the  government,  and  collect  the 
duties  and  imposts;  but  beyond  what  may  be  necessary 
for  these  objects,  there  will  be  no  invasion — no  using 
of  force  against  or  among  the  people  anywhere."  And 
they  knew  that  Congress  had  voted,  for  the  use  of  the 
President,  one  hundred  thousand  more  men,  and  one 
hundred  million  more  dollars  than  he  had  requested,  to 
make  the  contest  a  short  and  decisive  one,"  and  they 
knew  that  that  number  of  men  was  about  "  one-tenth, 
of  those,  of  proper  age,  within  the  regions  where  ap 
parently  all  are  willing  to  engage,"  and  that  the  "  sum 
is  less  than  a  twenty-third  part  of  the  value  owned  by 
the  men  who  seem  ready  to  devote  the  whole."  Know 
ing  these  things,  the  members  of  the  Ninth  Missouri 
marched  out  from  Boonville  with  light  hearts  and 
heavy  knapsacks,  without  a  murmur.  They*knew  that 


18  FIFTY-NINTH  11EGIMENT 

while  they  were  under  Fremont,  they  were  entirely  able 
to  destroy  every  vestige  of  rebellion  in  Missouri.  Over 
three  hundred  thousand  soldiers,  in  other  fields,  were 
waiting  orders  from  the  Federal  government,  or  were 
in  active  service;  and  that  sixty  odd  vessels,  with  one 
thousand  one  hundred  and  seventy-four  guns,  were  in 
commission,  and  twenty-three  steam  gun  boats  were  on 
the  stocks  rapidly  approaching  completion,  if  not  al 
ready  completed.  That  sixty  regiments  of  Federal 
troops  were  encamped  near  Washington,  and  that  every 
armory  in  the  land  was  at  work  night  and  day.  Know 
ing  all  these  things,  why  should  they  not  anticipate  a 
speedy  termination  to  their  soldier  life,  and  enjoy  in 
anticipation  home  society  once  more?  Alas,  little  did 
they  suppose  that  they  themselves  were  to  be  the  in 
struments  in  the  hands  of  the  President  to  work  out 
the  "salvation  of  the  Almighty." 

It  is  said  that  Governor  Yates,  of  Illinois,  telegraphed 
to  the  President  at  a  certain  time,  to  "  call  out  one  mil 
lion  of  men,  instead  of  three  hundred  thousand,  that  he 
might  make  quick  work  of  the  rebellion."  The  Pres 
ident  replied :  "Hold  on  Dick;  let's  wait  and  sec  the 
salvation  of  the  Almighty."  Had  the  President  deemed 
it  policy  to  have  adopted  Dick's  advice,  the  rebellion 
might  have  been  quelled,  but  perhaps  the  cause  would 
not  have  been  removed;  and  our  good,  honest  Presi 
dent  has  not  only  been  aiming  to  quell  the  rebellion, 
but  to  remove  the  cause  at  the  same  time.  Hence  the 
instrumentality  of  the  army  in  establishing  the  policy 
of  the  administration.  As  the  army  progressed  in 
strength  and  military  discipline,  so  did  the  views  of  the 
administration  and  people  change  in  regard  to  what 
might  be  accomplished  in  the  destruction  of  the  causus 
belli.  And  hence  the  "military  necessities." 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  19 

The  brigade  marched  a  few  miles  from  town  and 
bivoucked  for  the  night.  On  the  13th  and  14th  it 
marched  about  twenty-eight  miles,  and  went  into  camp 
near  Syracuse. 

The  country  is  here  not  so  broken  as  at  Boonville, 
and  is  under  good  cultivation,  with  neat  and  comfbrta- 
ble  farm  houses  and  barns  dotting  the  whole  landscape. 

The  regiment  lay  in  camp  here  on  the  15th,  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  16th,  struck  tents  and  took  up  the 
line  of  march  for  the  rebel  army.  Price  is  reported  to 
be  about  seventy-five  miles  to  the  south-west,  erecting 
fortifications. 

Since  leaving  Boonville,  some  of  those  who  were  in 
disposed  on  starting,  had  become  so  sick  as  to  be  un 
able  to  proceed,  and  were  consequently  taken  to  Syra 
cuse,  and  left  there  to  be  disposed  of  by  the  Medical 
Director  in  charge.  From  Syracuse  they  were  sent  to 
St.  Louis,  to  the  hospital. 

When  leaving  camp,  the  writer  being  detained  until 
after  the  regiment  had  moved,  came  across  a  young 
man  who  had  laid  himself  down  by  the  road-side  to 
die,  as  he  said.  He  was  taking  the  measels  and  was 
quite  sick.  The  Surgeon  of  the  regiment,  Dr.  Hazlett, 
had  overlooked,  or  been  deceived  in  the  appearance  of 
this  young  man  at  the  morning  examination,  and  had 
ordered  him  to  march  with  the  regiment.  This  he  was 
unable  to  do,  and  would  have  been  left  by  the  road-side 
if  he  had  not  been  accidently  discovered.  With  some 
difficulty  he  was  conveyed  to  Syracuse  and  left  in  hos 
pital.  The  commander  of  his  company  was  subse 
quently  notified  of  his  death  in  the  St.  Louis  hospital. 


CHAPTER  III. 


From  the  16th  to  the  23d  of  October,  the  regiment 
continued  its  line  of  march  daily.  It  moved  in  a 
south-western  direction,  crossing  the  Pacific  railroad  at 
Otterville. 

Otterville  is  a  small  town  on  the  railroad,  near  the 
right  bank  of  the  Lamoine  river.  It  numbers  from  three 
to  five  hundred  inhabitants,  most  of  whom  are  very 
indifferent  to  the  Union  cause.  No  manifestations  of 
rejoicing  were  shown  on  the  approach  of  the  noble  men 
who  were  coming  to  protect  them  from  the  ravages  of 
the  rebel  army;  no  stars  and  stripes  were  spread  to  the 
breeze  as  they  came  in  sight,  but  every  one  manifested 
a  coolness  which  indicated  very  distinctly  in  which 
direction  their  sympathies  lay. 

The  country  still  continues  to  be  very  good.  The 
farming  lands  are  here  under  good  cultivation  and  well 
improved.  The  soil  is  productive,  and  gives  liberally 
into  the  hands  of  the  cultivator.  Every  one  seems  to 
be  prospering  but  somewhat  discouraged  at  this  time, 
as  Price's  army  made  rather  heavy  draws  on  their 
granaries  and  larders  as  he  passed  through  here,  and 
the  Union  army  is  now  claiming  a  share  of  what  they 
have  left.  There  is  yet  an  abundance  to  supply  all  de 
mands,  and  no  one  need  to  suffer. 

The  brigade  passes  through  Otterville  without  halt 
ing,  and  none  but  a  few  stragglers  have  any  thing  to 

(20) 


FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.         21 

eay  to  the  citizens,  either  to  aggravate  or  soothe  them. 
The  direction  taken  is  towards  Warsaw,  on  the  Osage 
river,  where,  it  is  rumored,  Price  is  entrenching. 

The  routine  of  a  campaign  is  now  fully  commenced. 
Reveille  is  sounded  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning — all 
hands  must  then  turn  out  to  roll  call — breakfast  is 
cooked,  and  at  seven  the  bugle  sounds  to  fall  in  for  the 
march.  Two  hours  steady  march  follows,  and  then  a 
rest  of  ten  minutes,  and  thus  until  twelve  or  fifteen 
miles  is  passed  over,  when,  if  wood  and  water  is  con 
venient,  camp  is  selected,  tents  are  pitched,  supper  is 
provided,  retreat  is  sounded,  and  all  becomes  quiet  for 
the  night.  Thus  it  was  with  the  Ninth,  until  their 
arrival  at  Warsaw.  There  is  nothing  to  enliven  the 
monotony  of  the  march  but  the  lively  jokes  and  sallies 
of  wit  of  the  boys,  and  the  change  of  scenery  through 
which  they  pass. 

The  distance  from  Otterville  to  Warsaw,  by  the  roads 
the  regiment  moved,  is  perhaps  seventy  miles,  and  the 
face  of  the  country  is  considerably  variegated.  For  the 
most  part  it  is  a  level,  unbroken  region  until  you  ap 
proach  the  bluffs  of  the  Osage.  The  land  is  however 
rolling  and  enough  diversified  with  hills  and  elevated 
peaks,  to  make  it  interesting  to  the  traveler. 

On  the  23d  of  October,  the  regiment  went  into  camp 
two  miles  north  of  Warsaw,  to  await  the  construction 
of  a  military  bridge  across  the  Osage  river.  The  Osage 
at  this  point  is  about  three  hundred  yards  wide,  with 
abrupt  high  banks  and  a  deep  swift  current,  so  that  i£ 
is  impossible  to  cross  an  army  in  any  other  way  than 
by  means  of  a  strong  substantial  bridge. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  division,  as  many  "sappers  and 
miners"  and  laborers  as  could  be  profitably  employed, 
were  set  to  work,  and  in  forty-eight  hours  the  bridge 


22  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

was  ready  for  crossing.  It  was  a  very  rude  structure, 
but  answered  every  purpose. 

At  Warsaw  other  troops  came  in  from  other  direc 
tions,  and  swelled  the  forces  which  were  to  cross  at  this 
point  to  quite  a  large  army.  Some  arrived  in  the 
morning  before  the  Ninth,  and  about  ten  thousand 
passed  the  regiment  after  it  had  gone  into  camp.  The 
weather  continues  delightful,  and  regiments  coming  in 
and  passing,  with  their  bright  guns  and  accoutrements, 
present  a  splendid  and  most  cheering  spectacle. 

There  was  great  disappointment  manifested  by  the 
troops  on  their  arrival  here  and  finding  that  Price  was 
still  on  the  wing.  Here  is  where  madame  rumor  had 
strongly  entrenched  the  rebel  army,  and  the  boys  had 
confidently  expected  to  have  a  battle  with  him  at  this 
point.  Their  chagrin  was  great  when  they  learned  that 
he  had  still  two  or  three  weeks  the  start  of  them  to 
wards  Arkansas.  They  were  consoled  somewhat  by  a 
probability  that  he  might  stop  at  Springfield  and  give 
them  battle.  They  now  felt  that  after  being  reinforced 
by  so  vast  an  army  as  seemed  to  have  joined  them  here, 
they  could  whip  the  whole  southern  confederacy,  before 
breakfast,  some  bright  morning,  if  it  could  be  found. 
Although  disappointed,  they  were  not  discouraged,  but 
were  very  eager  for  the  pursuit  to  recommence. 

While  laying  here  those  who  could  get  passes,  and 
some  who  could  not,  went  over  to  town,  and  spent  the 
day  in  making  observations.  Warsaw  was  the  first 
town  the  boys  had  any  leisure  or  opportunity  to  visit 
since  leaving  Boonville,  and  it  was  quite  a  treat  for 
them  to  chat  with  the  citizens,  and  partake  of  their 
hospitalities.  A  few  of  them  came  back  to  camp 
pretty  blue, —  something  besides  water  having  been 
found  in  Warsaw, — and  a  few  did  not  return  until  the 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  23 

next  morning,  having  found  some  other  attractions  to 
detain  them. 

Although  there  was  quite  a  number  of  men  reporting 
to  the  surgeon  at  the  morning  sick  call,  there  were  but 
few  serious  cases  of  disease  in  the  regiment  at  this  time. 
The  seeds  of  the  measles  had  produced  its  fruits  and 
disappeared,  and  now  the  regiment  was  comparatively 
healthy.  While  laying  here,  news  was  received  of  the 
death  of  Johnson  Kyle,  of  Company  D,  at  Jefferson 
City.  He  was  one  of  the  three  left  there  sick  with  the 
Measles,  when  the  regiment  started  for  Boonville.  His 
name  heads  the  list  of  deaths  to  be  recorded  by  the 
regiment,  after  leaving  St.  Louis.  John  Burk,  of  Co. 
F,  very  soon  followed  him,  and  occupies  the  second 
place  in  that  honored  list. 


CHAPTER  IV 


On  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  October,  the  troops  com 
menced  crossing  the  river,  and  about  11  o'clock,  A.  M., 
the  Ninth  Missouri  landed  on  the  opposite  shore,  and 
halted  an  hour  for  dinner,  and  for  stragglers  to  come 
up  from  Warsaw.  Although  orders  against  straggling 
was  very  strict,  and  the  punishment  threatened,  severe, 
many  of  the  soldiers  fell  out  of  ranks,  and  slipped  oiF 
to  town. 

Warsaw  is  situated  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Osage  river, 
and  is  the  largest  town  passed  through  since  leaving 
Boonville.  There  being  no  towns  of  any  size  within 
many  miles  of  it,  it  has  quite  an  extended  country  trade, 
and  boasts  of  several  large  stores  and  business  houses  of 
different  kinds.  The  rebels  while  here,  two  weeks  since, 
supplied  themselves  with  goods  to  a  large  amount,  from 
two  or  three  Union  Stores  which  were  in  the  town. 
The  merchants  and  citizens  here  are  still  undecided  as 
to  which  cause  they  should  give  their  influence.  They 
are  all,  however,  willing  to  be  let  alone.  No  demon 
strations  of  satisfaction  or  the  contrary,  was  manifested 
while  the  army  remained  here. 

At  1  o'clock,  the  bugal  sounded,  and  the  line  of 
march  was  again  taken  up  and  continued  until  the  30th, 
when  the  army  went  into  camp  for  a  day  or  two,  at 
Humansville.  The  direction  from  Warsaw  to  Ilumans- 
ville,  is  southward,  and  the  fear  of  the  men  now  was, 

(24) 


FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.          25 

that  the  rebels  were  making  for  Arkansas.  Rumor 
again  had  it  that  they  were  fortifying  somewhere  be 
tween  here  and  Springfield,  Missouri ;  but  the  boys 
did  not  credit  it.  Nothing  reliable  could  be  obtained 
of  their  whereabouts,  and  Arkansas  appeared  to  be  the 
most  inviting  place  for  a  fleeing  army.  At  any  rate,  it 
was  evident  that  they  had  so  far,  fled  as  fast  as  they 
had  been  pursued. 

The  country  from  the  Osage  to  this  point  is  poor, 
broken  and  rocky.  It  seems  as  though  nature  intended 
this  as  the  stone  quarry  for  the  universe.  Here  is 
stone  enough  to  supply  the  United  States  with  building 
material  for  centuries.  The  roads  are  all  stone,  the 
hills  are  solid  rock,  and  the  fields  are  stone.  There  is 
very  little  tillable  lands  south  of  the  Osage,  until  within 
the  vicinity  of  Humansville.  There  are  a  few  farms, 
and  occasionally  a  small  town,  but  they  are  for  the  most 
part  deserted.  The  inhabitants,  perhaps,  have  gone 
south  with  Price.  Quincy,  the  largest  town  on  the 
road,  is  entirely  deserted ;  the  citizens  all  being  rebels. 

The  only  incident  of  note,  during  the  march  from 
the  Osage,  to  Humansville,  was  the  return  to  the  army 
of  Major  White  and  his  Prairie  Scouts. 

On  the  30th  of  September,  Price  evacuated  Lexing 
ton,  and  commenced  a  retreat  to  the  south.  He  left  a 
rebel  guard  there  in  charge  of  some  Union  prisoners. 
On  the  15th  of  October,  Major  White,  commanding  a 
squadron  of  cavalry,  called  Prairie  Scouts,  with  two 
and  twenty  men,  made  a  forced  march  of  nearly  sixty 
miles,  surprised  Lexington,  dispersed  the  rebels,  cap 
tured  sixty  or  seventy  prisoners,  took  two  steam  ferry 
boats,  and  some  other  less  valuable  articles,  secured  the 
Union  prisoners  left  there,  and  with  a  rebel  captured  flag, 
returned  by  another  route  to  Warsaw,  traveling  with 


26         FIFTY-NINTH   KEGIMENT  ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

neither  provisions  nor  transportation,  and  joining  Free- 
mont's  forces  south  of  the  Osage.  As  characteristic  of 
the  energy  of  the  men  whom  Gen.  Freemont  gathered 
about  him,  it  is  worth  narrating,  that  Major  "White's 
horses  being  unshod,  he  procured  some  old  iron,  called 
for  blacksmiths  from  the  ranks,  took  possession  of  two 
unoccupied  blacksmsith's  shop,  and  in  five  days  made 
the  shoes  and  shod  all  his  horses.  At  another  time,  the 
cartridges  being  spoiled  by  rain,  they  procured  powder 
and  lead,  and  turning  a  carpenter's  shop  into  a  cartridge 
factory,  made  three  thousand  cartridges.  Such  men 
could  march,  if  necessary,  without  waiting  for  army 
wagons  and  regular  equipments.  As  the  Major  and 
his  Prairie  Scouts  proceeded  to  Head  Quarters,  they 
were  greeted  with  cheer  after  cheer  by  the  soldiers.  The 
rebel  Hag,  being  the  first  they  had  seen,  was  a  great 
curiosity  to  the  boys.  In  contrast  with  their  own  loved 
stars  and  stripes,  it  was  an  insignificant  affair.  Its  stars 
and  bars  elicited  the  scorn  and  contempt  of  every  one 
who  saw  it.  The  curses  bestowed  upon  it  were  not  loud, 
but  they  were  deep  and  came  from  the  heart. 


CHAPTER   V. 


On  the  30th  of  October,  the  Brigade  went  into  camp, 
near  Humansville.  Humansville,  is  a  small  town  in 
Hickory  County,  Mo.,  and  is  the  only  place  where  any 
demonstrations  were  made,  in  honor  of  the  stars  and 
stripes,  between  Boonville  and  Springfield.  Here  the 
soldiers  of  the  Union  were  welcomed  by  the  waiving  of 
flags  and  the  smiles  of  the  women,  and  the  kindly 
greetings  of  the  citizens  generally.  A  portion  of  Price's 
army  had  passed  through  this  place,  some  three  weeks 
before,  and  had  carried  off  all  the  goods  belonging  to 
the  merchants,  and  had  mistreated  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  and  vicinity  to  such  a  degree,  that  they  were 
heartily  tired  of  their  presence,  and  were  rejoiced  at 
the  approach  of  the  Federal  troops. 

The  weather  continues  pleasant,  and  an  opportunity 
is  here  offered  the  boys  to  wash  up  their  clothing.  This 
was  rather  an  amusing  task,  as  they  had  not  as  yet 
become  accustomed  to  such  work.  Fires  were  started 
along  the  branches,  and  by  the  use  of  their  camp  ket 
tles,  they  managed  to  hang  out  quite  a  respectable  lot 
of  clean  army  linen.  Those  having  money  and  not  being 
partial  to  the  washing  business,  had  their  washing 
done  by  the  women  of  the  town,  at  the  rate  of  ten 
cents  per  piece. 

"When  going  into  camp  it  was  thought  that,  perhaps, 
several  days  would  be  spent  here,  to  allow  the  men  some 

(27) 


28  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

rest  and  to  ascertain  the  distance  to,  and  position  of 
the  enemy ;  but  about  noon  of  the  31st,  orders  came  to 
be  ready  to  march  at  a  moment's  notice. 

The  sick  of  the  regiment,  had  been  increasing  for 
the  last  ten  days,  to  such  an  extent,  that  now  there  was 
no  means  of  conveying  them  any  farther.  Thus  far, 
;  hey  had  been  transported  in  wagons,  but  it  was  now 
necessary  to  select  such  as  could  not,  in  a  measure, 
provide  for  themselves,  and  leave  them  behind.  The 
Surgeon,  therefore,  fitted  up  the  Meeting-house  in 
town,  in  the  best  possible  manner,  and  removed  the  sick 
to  it.  A  cook,  some  nurses,  and  several  days  rations, 
were  left  with  them.  Poor  fellows !  they  all  nearly 
starved  to  death  before  they  could  get  away,  and  three 
did  die  from  the  effects  of  disease  and  want  of  proper 
nourishment.  After  the  army  left,  the  patriotism  of 
the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  town,  oozed  out  at 
their  fingers  ends,  and  our  sick  boys  could  get  nothing 
from  them.  One  man,  John  Clemens,  of  Co.  II,  who 
was  very  sick  when  taken  there,  died  on  the  4th  of 
November.  Bromwell  Kitchen,  of  Co.  F,  soon  fol 
lowed,  and  Nathaniel  B.  Westbrook,  of  Co.  A,  died  on 
the  20th.  The  others  eventually  found  their  way  to 
the  regiment. 

At  4  o'clock  orders  were  received  to  strike  tents  and 
move  out.  An  hour  was  now  spent  in  busy  preparation 
for  the  march.  No  one  had  thought  that  there  would  be 
a  move  before  morning,  and  all  were  taken  by  surprise 
at  the  order  to  march  just  as  night  was  setting  in. 
Conjectures  flew  thick  and  fast  through  camp,  as  to 
what  caused  the  haste  in  moving.  Some  supposed  that 
Price  was  not  far  away,  and  that  they  were  going  to 
surprise  him  by  a  night  attack.  Some  supposed  one 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  29 

thing  and  some  another,  but  all  was  wrapped  in  uncer 
tainty. 

At  6  o'clock,  the  bugle  sounded  to  fall  in,  and  the 
first  night  march,  of  the  regiment,  now  commenced. 
Camp  was  one  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Humansville, 
and  to  get  to  the  main  road  to  Springfield,  the  regiment 
had  to  retrace  its  march  back  through  the  town.  "When 
therefore  it  commenced  filing  off  in  the  direction  it  had 
come,  the  impression  prevailed  that  they  were  on  the 
retreat.  Retreat!  retreat,  passed  along  the  line,  we 
are  on  the  retreat — what  does  this  mean,  was  the  gen 
eral  inquiry.  As  soon,  however,  as  they  had  passed 
through  town,  and  struck  the  Springfield  road,  they 
found  that  they  were  not  retreating,  but  were  contin 
uing  their  old  line  of  march.  This  pleased  them,  and 
with  alacrity  they  moved  forward.  The  moon  had  not 
yet  made  its  appearance,  and  the  evening  was  quite 
dark.  Several  of  the  boys  in  going  over  the  rough 
roads,  fell  and  crippled  themselves  so  as  to  be  unable  to 
proceed.  The  large  stones  which  composed  the  road, 
would  sometimes  form  steps  of  six  inches  in  hight,  and 
in  stepping,  they  would  fall  forward  with  serious  results. 
The  moon  now  makes  her  appearance,  bright  and  fair, 
and  the  road  becomes  distinct  so  that  marching  becomes 
easy,  and  much  more  rapid  progress  is  made.  The 
march  continued  till  near  morning,  when  the  troops 
bivouacked  for  a  few  hours  rest. 

The  bugle  again  sounds,  and  the  march  is  continued. 
At  12  o'clock,  a  halt  is  again  called,  and  an  order  is 
brought  round  to  lighten  baggage.  All  extra,  useless 
and  heavy  baggage  is  ordered  to  be  left,  under  guard, 
until  brought  forward  by  the  wagon  train.  This  is 
indicative  of  a  forced  march,  or  a  going  into  battle. 
The  latter  is  not  probable,  as  no  enemy  is  reported 


30  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

near.  At  2  o'clock,  the  regiment  moved  out  in  light 
equipments. 

Shortly  after  starting,  a  rumor  got  afloat  that  Price 
was  really  making  a  stand  at  Springfield.  This  news 
was  received  with  a  shout,  and  a  more  rapid  movement 
of  the  troops.  From  this  time  until  its  arrival  at  Spring 
field,  the  regiment  had  no  other  than  absolutely  needful 
rest.  The  nearer  the  approach  to  Springfield,  the  more 
confirmed  became  the  report  of  the  rebel  army  being 
in  that  vicinity.  The  regiment  having  made  ten  or 
twelve  miles  this  afternoon,  went  into  camp  on  the 
banks  of  a  small  creek,  which  happened  to  run  in  the 
right  place  for  their  convenience. 

Here  an  incident  occurred  which  came  very  near  ter 
minating  the  life  of  one  of  the  boys.  He  had  gone  to 
the  creek  to  wash,  and  while  there,  walked  out  on  a 
small  log  which  projected  from  the  bank  over  the 
water.  His  weight  was  too  great  for  the  support  of 
the  log;  it  gave  way  and  he  fell  with  his  back  across  a 
loo:  below  him,  and  his  head  and  shoulders  into  the 

o 

water.  He  was  badly  hurt,  and  had  there  been  no  as 
sistance  near  by,  he  would  have  drowned.  He  was  un 
able  to  march  for  several  days,  so  as  to  keep  up  with 
the  regiment.  The  march  from  here  to  Springfield 
was  uninterrupted,  and  on  the  night  of  the  3d  of  No- 
vember,  the  regiment  went  into  camp  within  easy  dis 
tance  of  Springfield. 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th,  the  Ninth  Missouri  found 
itself  encamped  on  the  out  skirts  of  a  large  army 
Fremont  had  arrived  with  the  greater  portion  of  his 
army  several  days  before,  and  driven  Price  from  Spring 
field,  and  was  now  awaiting  for  the  balance  of  his 
forces  to  come  up.  The  Ninth  had  marched,  in  the 
last  two  days  and  nights,  over  fifty  mile?,  to  be  in  time 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  31 

for  the  anticipated  advance,  and  they  were  now  rejoiced 
that  they  had  arrived  in  due  season.  A  more  happy 
set  of  men  than  those  of  the  Ninth  Missouri,  could  not 
have  been  found  in  the  army.  It  had  been  on  the 
march  twenty  days,  with  but  little  prospect  of  overtak 
ing  the  enemy.  Now  the  enemy  were  before  them,  and 
their  march  was  perhaps  terminated  for  the  present. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


On  the  approach  of  General  Fremont,  Price  had 
fallen  back  to  a  chosen  position,  some  ten  miles  south 
of  Springfield,  leaving  a  garrison  of  three  or  four 
hundred  men  to  hold  the  place,  until  he  could  get 
thoroughly  entrenched  in  his  new  position,  and  to  give 
General  McCullough  time  to  join  him  from  below,  with 
his  Texas  and  Arkansas  forces. 

General  Fremont,  in  order  to  disperse  this  rebel  gar 
rison  and  get  possession  of  the  town,  directed  Major 
Zagonyi,  commandant  of  General  Fremont's  body  guard, 
to  ride  forward  with  a  force  of  about  three  hundred,  to 
make  a  reconnoisance,  and,  if  practicable,  capture  or 
disperse  the  rebels,  and  take  possession  of  the  village. 
Major  Zagonyi  was  a  Hungarian  officer,  drawn  to  the 
western  service  by  the  fame  of  Fremont. 

He  had  himself  recruited  the  body  guard  which  he 
commanded.  It  consisted  of  three  companies  of  care 
fully  picked  men,  armed  with  light  sabers  and  revolvers. 
The  first  company  also  carried  carbines.  One  hundred 
and  sixty  of  this  guard,  with  one  hundred  and  forty  of 
Major  White's  Prairie  Scouts,  already  spoken  of,  consti 
tuted  his  force.  As  he  advanced,  he  learned  that  the 
rebel  guard  had  been  reinforced,  and  that  over  two 
thousand  men  were  ready  to  receive  him.  They  had 
also  been  warned  of  his  approach,  and  surprise  wras  im- 

(32) 


FIFTY-SIXTH    REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.         33 

possible.     Prudence  would  have  dictated  that  he  return 
for  reinforcements. 

But  Fremont's  body  guard  had  been  a  subject  of 
much  ridicule  and  abuse.  He  determined  to  make  good 
its  reputation  for  valor,  at  least.  Perhaps  by  attacking 
the  enemy  in  the  rear,  he  might  still  secure  the  benefit 
of  a  surprise.  This  advantage  he  would  gain,  if  possi 
ble.  A  detour  of  twelve  miles  around  Springfield 
brought  them  to  the  rebel's  position,  but  upon  their 
south  flank. 

They  were  strongly  posted  just  west  of  the  village,, 
on  the  top  of  a  hill,  which  sloped  toward  the  west.. 
Immediately  in  their  rear  was  a  thick  wood,  impene 
trable  by  cavalry.  Before  they  came  within  sight  of 
the  enemy,  Zagonyi  halted  his  men.  Drawing  them  up 
in  line,  he  addressed  them  in  the  following  brief  and 
nervous  words: 

"Fellow-soldiers,  this  is  your  first  battle.  For  our 
three  hundred,  the  enemy  are  two  thousand.  If  any 
of  you  are  sick  or  tired  by  the  long  march,  or  if  any 
think  the  number  is  too  great,  now  is  the  time  to  turn 
back." 

He  paused;  no  one  was  sick  or  tired.  "We  must 
not  retreat,"  he  continued.  "  Our  honor,  and  the  honor 
of  our  General,  and  of  our  country,  tell  us  to  go  on. 
I  will  lead  you.  We  have  been  called  holiday  soldiers 
for  the  pavements  of  St.  Louis.  To-day  we  will  show 
that  we  are  soldiers  for  the  battle.  Your  watchword 
shall  be  'Fremont  and  the  Union!'  Draw  sabre!  By 
the  right  flank — quick  trot — march ! " 

With  that  shout — "Fremont  and  the  Union !" — upon 

their  lips,  their  horses  pressed  into  a  quick  gallop,  they 

turn  the  corner  which  brings  them  in  sight  of  the  foe. 

There  is  no  surprise.     In  line  of  battle,  protected  in  the 

(3) 


84  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

rear  by  a  wood  which  no  cavalry  can  enter,  the  rebels 
stand,  forewarned,  ready  to  receive  the  charge.  There 
is  no  time  to  delay — none  to  draw  back.  In  a  moment 
they  have  reached  the  foot  of  the  hill.  The  rebel  lire 
sweeps  over  their  heads.  The  Prairie  Scouts,  by  a  mis 
understanding  of  orders,  become  separated  from  their 
companions,  and  fail  to  join  them  again.  Up  the  steep 
hill  the  hundred  and  sixty  men  press  upon  the  two 
thousand  of  their  foe.  Seven  guard  horses  fell  upon  a 
space  not  more  than  twenty  feet  square.  But  nothing 
can  check  their  wild  enthusiasm.  They  break  through 
the  rebel  line.  They  drive  the  infantry  back  into  the 
woods.  They  scatter  the  hostile  cavalry  on  this  side, 
and  on  that.  They  pursue  the  flying  rebels  down  the 
hill  again,  and  through  the  streets  of  the  village. 

It  seems  incredible,  yet  it  is  sober  history — not  ro 
mance;  in  less  than  three  minutes,  that  body-guard  of 
a  hundred  and  sixty  men  had  utterly  routed  and  scat 
tered  an  enemy  twenty-two  hundred  strong.  Planting 
the  Union  flag  upon  the  court  house,  they  retire  as 
night  set  in,  that  they  may  not  be  surprised  in  the  dark 
ness  by  new  rebel  forces.  Their  loss  was  sixteen  killed 
and  twenty  eight  wounded,  out  of  the  whole  three 
hundred. 

This  has  been  pronounced  an  unnecessary  sacrifice. 
The  charge,  it  is  said,  was  ill  judged.  But  the  bravery 
surely  merits  the  highest  commendation,  and  the  suc 
cess  sanctifies  the  judgment  of  Zagonyi,  which  directed 
the  assault.  Moreover,  we  needed  the  example  of  this 
-chivalrous  dash  and  daring,  to  wake  up  some  of  our 
too  cautious  generals,  and  to  inspire  that  enthusiasm 
and  that  ^confidence  of  success,  which  are  essential  to 
great  accomplishments.  For  let  it  not  be  forgotten, 
that  this  was  an  expedition,  which,  in  its  ultimate  re- 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  35 

suits,  was  designed  to  sweep  the  Mississippi  to  the 
Gulf. 

The  ladies  of  Springfield,  thus  redeemed  from  rebel 
marauders,  requested  permission  to  present  to  their 
heroic  deliver  a  Union  flag.  "Will  it  be  believed  ?  When 
this  body-guard  returned  to  St.  Louis,  by  peremtory 
orders  from  Washington,  it  was  disbanded:;  the  officers 
retired  from  service,  and  the  men  were  denied  rations 
and  forage.  It  was  deemed  inexpedient  that  a  corps 
should  exist,  so  enthusiastically  devoted  to  their  chival 
rous  leader.  In  the  order  which  came  for  their  dis 
banding,  they  were  condemned  for  "  words  spoken  at 
Springfield."  Condemned  for  that  war-cry,  which  in 
spired  to  as  glorious  a  charge  as  was  ever  made  on 
battle  field,  "Fremont  and  the  Union." 

Zagonyi,  in  his  official  report  of  the  battle,  says: 
"  Their  war-cry,  <  Fremont  and  the  Union,'  broke  forth 
like  thunder.  Half  of  my  command  charged  upon  the 
infantry,  and  the  remainder  upon  the  cavalry,  breaking 
their  line  at  every  point.  The  infantry  retired  into  the 
thick  wood,  where  it  was  impossible  to  follow  them. 
The  cavalry  fled  in  all  directions  through  the  town.  I 
rallied  and  charged  through  the  streets,  in  all  direc 
tions,  about  twenty  times,  returning  at  last  to  the  court 
house,  where  I  raised  the  flag  of  one  of  my  companies, 
liberated  the  prisoners,  and  united  my  men,  who  now^ 
amounted  to  seventy,  the  rest  being  scattered  or  lost. 

"From  the  beginning  to  the  end,  the  body-guard  be 
haved  with  the  utmost  coolness.  I  have -seen  battles 
and  cavalry  charges  before;  but  I  never  imagined  that 
a  body  of  men  could  endure  and  accomplish  so  much 
in  the  face  of  such  fearful  disadvantage.  At  the  cry  of 
'Fremont  and  the  Union,'  which  was  raised  at  every 
charge,  they  dashed  forward  repeatedly  in  perfect  order, 


36  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

and  with  resistless  energy.  Man}'  of  my  officers,  non 
commissioned  officers  and  privates,  had  three,  or  even 
four  horses  killed  under  them.  Many  performed  acts 
of  heroism  ;  not  one  but  did  his  whole  duty." 

On  the  29th  of  October,  General  Fremont  established 
his  head-quarters  at  Springfield.  From  Boonville  to 
Springfield  he  had  invariably  marched  with  the  advance 
of  his  army.  On  the  30th,  General  Ashboth  brought 
up  his  division,  and  General  Lane,  on  the  same  day, 
appeared  with  his  brigade  of  Kansas  border  men,  and 
two  hundred  mounted  Indians  and  negroes.  And  on 
the  2d  and  3d  of  November,  General  Pope  brought  up 
the  rear  with  his  command,  of  which  the  Ninth  Mis 
souri  formed  a  part. 

Since  leaving  Humanville,  the  health  of  the  regi 
ment  continued  good.  Nearly  all  the  men  had  been 
able  to  march  up  with  the  regiment.  Those  who  gave 
out  on  the  way  were  given  passes  by  the  Surgeon  to 
fall  back  on  the  train  and  ride  on  the  wagons.  At  this 
time  there  was  but  one  ambulance  allowed  to  each  reg 
iment,  and  this  was  used  principally  by  the  Surgeon 
for  his  own  convenience,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  sick 
and  disabled. 

Ambulances  had  been  provided,  to  move  in  the  rear 
of  the  regiments  on  a  march,  and  to  attend  them  in 
time  of  battle  for  the  purpose  of  transporting  those 
who  became  disabled  on  the  march,  and  for  hauling 
the  wounded  from  the  battle  field ;  but  the  Surgeons 
did  not  seem  to  understand  it  in  that  light.  They  took 
it  for  granted  that  ambulances  were  an  especial  comfort 
provided  for  themselves,  and  appropriated  them  ac 
cordingly.  Many  an  anxious  look  is  cast  at  the  lazy 
Doctor,  riding  in  the  ambulance,  by  the  sick,  sore- 
footed  soldier.  Many  a  sick,  weary  and  worn-out  sol- 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  37 

dier  is  allowed  to  fall  by  the  wayside,  or  to  climb  on 
the  top  of  a  loaded  lumbering  old  army  wagon,  and 
ride  with  the  hot  sun  pouring  his  ardent  rays  upon 
him,  until  night,  or  until  the  march  is  ended;  while  the 
healthy,  robust  Surgeon  takes  his  ease  in  the  closely 
covered  and  nicely  cushioned  ambulance. 

The  Surgeon  is  allowed  two  horses  for  his  especial 
use,  and  now  his  lackey,  detailed  from  the  ranks,  is  rid 
ing  one  and  leading  the  other  behind  the  ambulance. 
The  Surgeon  has  ridden  on  horse  back  during  the  cool 
of  the  morning,  but  now  the  heat  is  too  oppressive  and 
he  retires  to  the  shade  of  the  vehicles,  leaving  his  fat, 
sleek  and  magnificently  caparisoned  charger  to  be  cared 
for  by  the  unmanly  soldier,  who  prefers  being  a  lackey 
to  wearing  the  honor  and  manhood  of  the  man  in  the 
ranks. 

The  staff  officers,  and  those  of  the  line  also,  are  al 
lowed  by  government  eleven  dollars  per  month  to  pay 
servants  for  attending  them,  but  as  a  general  rule,  they 
manage  to  get  a  soldier  from  the  ranks  to  do  their 
work,  at  the  expense  of  the  government,  and  put  the 
eleven  dollars  into  their  own  pockets.  There  are  some 
men  who  scorn  to  stoop  to  such  trickery;  but  it  is  a 
notable  fact,  that  there  are  many,  wearing  the  insignia 
of  high  official  stations,  who  take  advantage  of  their 
oath  for  the  pitiful  sum  of  eleven  dollars  per  month. 
And  it  is  also  a  fact,  that  there  are  men  who  have  vol 
untarily  taken  upon  themselves  an  oath  to  serve  their 
country  as  good  soldiers,  who  willingly  allow  them 
selves  to  be  placed  upon  a  footing  with  the  veriest  col-* 
ored  slaves  in  the  land.  The  language  is  not  too  harsh. 
A  soldier  has  been  seen  washing  the  feet  and  trimming 
the  toe-nails  of  his  captain,  and  this  not  only  once,  but 
habitually.  The  appellation  given  to  him,  and  those 
of  his  calling,  was  "  Toe-Pick." 


CHAPTER  VII. 


On  the  morning  of  the  5th  the  regiment  moved 
quarters  to  within  a  mile  of  town,  and  pitched  their 
tents  in  regular  camp  order.  The  whole  country  for 
miles  around  Springfield  was  now  filled  with  tents,  and 
soldiers  were  as  thick  as  ants  on  an  ant  hill.  The 
whole  army  of  Fremont  was  now  here,  and  was  said  to 
number  seventy-two  thousand — or,  there  was  said  to  he 
seventy-two  thousand  rations  issued.  A  more  noble 
looking  set  of  men  were  never  gathered  into  an  army. 
Filled  with  enthusiasm  and  confidence  in  their  leader, 
this  army  could  not  have  been  defeated  by  any  rebel 
force  brought  against  it.  The  men  were  veiy  anxious 
for  a  forward  move  toward  the  enemy,  and  rumor  had 
it  that  in  a  day  or  two  the  enemy  would  be  met.  But, 
alas!  for  human  calculations.  ~No  movement  was  at 
this  time  to  be  made  against  the  foe;  but,  instead,  an 
inglorious  retreat.  Shame,  and  deathless  infamy,  at 
tend  the  instigators  of  the  retrograde  movement  of  this 
splendid  army. 

On  the  2d  day  of  Movember  General  Fremont  re 
ceived  notice  of  his  recall  to  St.  Louis  to  answer  charges 
preferred  against  him,  and  of  his  being  superceded  in 
his  command  by  General  Hunter.  Why  was  this  retro 
grade  movement  to  be  made?  Why  was  General  Fre 
mont  removed  from  the  command  at  this  most  aus 
picious  moment  ?  "Xot  until  the  secret  political  history 

'(38) 


FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT   ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.         39 

of  the  rebellion,  which  unmasks  hearts  and  exhibits 
motives,  shall  be  written,  can  these  questions  be  fully 
answered." 

As  soon  as  the  intelligence  that  General  Fremont 
was  superceded  by  General  Hunter  spread  through  the 
camp,  the  wildest  excitement  everywhere  prevailed. 
"Officers  and  men  organized  themselves  into  indigna 
tion  meetings.  Large  numbers  of  officers  declared  their 
determination  to  resign.  Whole  companies  threw 
down  their  arms." 

General  Fremont  consecrated  all  his  personal  influ 
ence,  entreating  the  men  to  remain,  like  true  patriots,- 
at  their  posts.  He  sent  immediately  to  General  Hunter 
the  intelligence  of  his  appointment,  and,  without  delay, 
issued  the  following  beautiful  and  effective  appeal  to- 
the  army : 

"  HEAD-QUARTERS  WESTERN  DEP'T., 

"SPRINGFIELD,  Mo.,  ^ov.  2d,  1861.. 
"SOLDIERS  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI  ARMY : — Agreeably  to 
orders  this  day  received  I  take  leave  of  you.  Although 
our  army  has  been  of  sudden  growth,  we  have  grown 
up  together,  and  I  have  become  familiar  with  the  brave 
and  generous  spirits  which  you  bring  to  the  defense  of 
your  country,  and  which  makes  me  anticipate  for  you 
a  brilliant  career.  Continue  as  you  have  begun,  and 
give  to  my  successor  the  same  cordial  and  enthusiastic 
support  with  which  you  have  encouraged  me.  Emu 
late  the  splendid  example  which  you  have  already  be 
fore  you,  and  let  me  remain,  as  I  am,  proud  of  the  noble 
army  which  I  had  thus  far  labored  to  bring  together 
Soldiers,  I  regret  to  leave  you.  Most  sincerely  I  thank 
you  for  the  regard  and  confidence  you  have  invariably 
shown  to  me.  I  deeply  regret  that  I  shall  not  have  the 


40  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

honor  to  lead  you  to  the  victory  which  you  are  just 
about  to  win ;  but  I  shall  claim  to  share  with  you  in 
the  joy  of  every  triumph,  and  trust  always  to  be  frater 
nally  remembered  by  my  companions  in  arms. 

«J.  C.  FREMONT, 
"Major-General  U.  S.  A." 

i 

In  the  evening,  one  hundred  and  ten  officers,  including 
every  brigadier-general  in  the  army,  visited  General 
Fremont  in  a  body.  They  presented  him  a  written 
address,  full  of  sympathy  and  respect,  and  earnestly 
urged  him  to  lead  them  against  the  enemy.  General 
Fremont  replied  to  the  address,  that,  if  General  Hunter 
did  not  arrive  -before  morning,  he  would  comply  with 
their  request.  At  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  he  ac 
cordingly  issued  the  order  of  battle.  The  enemy  occu 
pied  the  same  ground  as  that  which  they  had  occupied 
in  the  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek.  General  Lyon's  plan 
of  attack  was  to  be  substantially  followed. 

The  rebels  were  to  be  surrounded.  Generals  Sigle 
and  Lane  were  to  assail  them  in  the  rear,  General  As- 
both  from  the  east,  Generals  McKinstry  and  Pope  in 
front.  The  attack  was  to  be  simultaneous.  Every 
camp  was  astir  with  the  inspiriting  news.  Every 
soldier  was  full  of  enthusiasm. 

But  at  midnight  General  Hunter  arrived.  General 
Fremont  informed  him  of  the  condition  of  affairs,  ad 
vised  him  of  his  plans,  and  surrendered  the  command 
into  his  hands  The  order  for  battle  was  forthwith  coun 
termanded,  and  orders  were  issued  to  the  army  to  pre 
pare  to  turn  their  backs  upon  the  foe,  and  retrace  their 
march  to  St.  Louis.  The  next  morning  General  Fre 
mont  and  his  staff  left  the  camp.  As  he  passed  along 
the  soldiers  crowded  the  streets  and  the  roadsides  to 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  41 

witness  his  departure,  and,  as  they  returned  to  their 
quarters,  each  one  asked  himself  the  question  :  "  Why 
has  Fremont  been  removed  ?"  "No  ground  for  his  re 
moval  had  ever  been  made  known.  It  was  suggested 
that  he  was  too  extravagant  in  the  financial  manage 
ment  of  his  department.  But  there  was  no  more  justice 
in  charging  him  with  extravagance  than  there  would 
have  been  any  other  General  in  command  of  a  depart 
ment.  "Wherever  there  is  carrion  the  vultures  flock." 
Wherever  there  is  an  opportunity  for  public  plunder 
corrupt  men  greedily  gather.  They  abounded  in  Wash 
ington,  in  New  York,  in  St.  Louis ;  but  no  definite 
charges  could  be  made  that  General  Fremont  ever  par 
ticipated  in  any  scheme  to  defraud  the  Government. 
The  mystery  lay  in  the  fact  that  General  Fremont  was 
far  in  advance  of  the  nation's  representatives,  either  in 
the  field  or  cabinet.  "  He  realized  that  the  rebels  were 
in  earnest.  He  realized  that  all  attempts  at  pacification 
by  timidity  and  concessions  to  traitors  were  unavailing, 
and  would  but  add  fuel  to  the  flame.  He  realized  that 
the  only  way  to  stop  rebellion  was  to  chastise  rebels 
with  the  rod  of  justice.''  And,  realizing  these  things, 
he  issued  the  following  proclamation,  which  gave  great 
offense  to  the  more  timid  officials : 

"  HEAD-QUARTERS  WESTERN  DEP'T. 

"  ST.  Louis,  Mo.,  August  31st,  1861. 
"Circumstances,  in  my  judgment,  of  sufficient  ur 
gency,  render  it  necessary  that  the  Commanding  Gen 
eral  of  this  Department  should  assume  the  administra 
tive  powers  of  the  State.  Its  disorganized  condition, 
the  helplessness  of  the  civil  authority,  the  total  inse 
curity  of  life,  and  the  devastation  of  property  by  bands 
of  murderers  and  marauders,  who  infest  nearly  every 


42  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

county  in  the  State,  and  avail  themselves  of  the  public 
misfortunes  and  the  vicinity  of  a  hostile  force,  to  gratify 
private  and  neighborhood  vengeance,  and  who  find  an 
enemy  wherever  they  find  plunder, — finally  demand 
the  severest  measures  to  repress  the  daily  increasing 
crimes  and  outrages,  which  are  driving  oft' the  inhab 
itants  and  ruining  the  State.  In  this  condition,  the 
public  safety  and  the  success  of  our  armies  require  unity 
of  purpose,  without  let  or  hindrance,  to  the  prompt  ad 
ministration  of  affairs. 

"  In  order,  therefore,  to  suppress  disorder,  to  main 
tain,  as  far  as  now  practicable,  the  public  peace,  and  to 
give  security  and  protection  to  the  persons  and  property 
of  loyal  citizens,  I  do  hereby  extend,  and  declare  estab 
lished,  martial  law  throughout  the  State  of  Missouri. 
The  lines  of  the  army  of  occupation  in  this  State  are, 
for  the  present,  declared  to  extend  from  Lcavenworth, 
by  way  of  the  posts  of  Jefferson  City,  Holla  and  Iron- 
ton,  to  Cape  Girardeau,  on  the  Mississippi  River.  All 
persons  who  shall  be  taken  with  arms  in  their  hands 
within  these  lines  shall  be  tried  by  court  martial,  and, 
if  found  guilty,  will  be  shot.  The  property,  real  and 
personal,  of  all  persons  in  the  State  of  Misssouri  who 
shall  take  up  arms  against  the  United  States,  and  who 
shall  be  directly  proven  to  have  taken  active  part  with 
their  enemies  in  the  field,  is  declared  to  be  confiscated 
to  the  public  use ;  and  their  slaves,  if  any  they  have, 
are  hereby  declared  free  men. 

"All  persons  who  shall  be  proven  to  have  destroyed, 
after  the  publication  of  this  order,  railroad  tracks, 
bridges  or  telegraphs,  shall  suffer  the  extreme  penalty 
of  the  law.  All  persons  engaged  in  treasonable  corres 
pondence,  in  giving  or  procuring  aid  to  the  enemies  of 
the  United  States,  in  fomenting  tumult,  in  disturbing 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  48 

the  public  tranquility,  by  creating  and  circulating  false 
reports  or  incendiary  documents,  are  in  their  own  in 
terest  warned  that  they  are  exposing  themselves  to 
sudden  and  sure  punishment. 

"All  persons  who  have  been  led  away  from  their 
allegiance  are  required  to  return  to  their  homes  fortl> 
with ;  any  such  absence  without  sufficient  cause  will  be 
held  to  be  presumptive  evidence  against  them. 

"The  object  of  this  declaration  is  to  place  in  the 
hands  of  the  military  authorities  the  power  to  give  in 
stantaneous  effect  to  existing  laws,  and  to  supply  such 
deficiencies  as  the  conditions  of  war  demand.  But  it  is 
not  intended  to  suspend  the  ordinary  tribunals  of  the 
country,  where  the  law  will  be  administered  by  the 
civil  officers  in  the  usual  manner,  and  with  their  cus 
tomary  authority,  while  the  same  can  be  peaceably 
exercised. 

"  The  Commanding  General  will  labor  vigilantly  for 
the  public  welfare,  and  in  his  efforts  for  their  safety, 
hopes  to  obtain  not  only  the  acquiescence  but  the  active 
support  of  the  loyal  people  of  the  country. 

"J.  C.  FREMONT, 
"  Major-General  Commanding/' 

"An  out-cry  from  all  pro-slavery  partisans,  in  all 
parts  of  the  country,  went  up  against  the  man  who  had 
first  dared  to  proclaim  liberty  to  the  slaves  of  rebels." 
A  demand  was  made  for  his  removal.  Fair  means  were 
not  alone  used  for  this  end.  The  most  strenuous  efforts 
were  secretly  made  to  undermine  him  in  the  confidence 
of  the  Administration,  and  by  bitter  public  attacks 
through  the  press  to  rob  him  of  the  confidence  of  the 
people.  And  success  attended  those  efforts. 

The  President,  whose  duty  it  was  to  hold  a  controll- 


44  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

ing  influence  in  the  councils  of  the  nation,  coincided 
with  this  intriguing  faction  against  his  better  judgment, 
and  submitted  to  this  great  injustice — injustice  both  to 
Fremont  and  the  country.  The  proclamation  of  Gen 
eral  Fremont  was  accordingly  modified,  and  Fremont 
himself  deprived  of  his  command. 

'  On  the  reception  of  the  President's  letter,  requesting 
him  to  modify  his  proclamation,  Fremont  replied : 

"If,"  said  he,  "your  better  judgment  decides  that  I 
was  wrong  in  the  article  respecting  the  liberation  of 
slaves,  I  have  to  ask  that  you  will  openly  direct  me  to 
make  the  correction.  The  implied  censure  will  be  re 
ceived  as  a  soldier  always  should  receive  the  reprimand 
of  his  chief.  If  I  were  to  retract  of  my  own  accord  it 
would  imply  that  I  myself  thought  it  wrong,  and  that 
I  had  acted  without  the  reflection  which  the  gravity  of 
the  point  demanded.  But  I  did  not.  I  acted  with  full 
deliberation,  and  with  the  certain  conviction  that  it  was 
a  measure  right  and  necessary,  and  I  think  so  still." 

General  Fremont  submitted  to  the  modification,  which 
was  to  confine  the  confiscation  and  liberation  of  only 
such  slaves  as  had  been  actually  employed  by  the  rebels 
in  military  service.  .  If  they  worked  the  guns  they  were 
to  be  free.  If  they  only  raised  the  cotton  which  en 
abled  the  rebels  to  buy  the  guns  they  were  not  to  be 
free,  but  to  be  returned  to  their  masters  if  they  should 
escape  to  our  lines  in  search  of  freedom.  But  this  did 
not  satisfy  those  who  were  even  more  anxious  to  treat 
the  rebels  with  conciliation  and  have  Fremont  removed 
and  his  influence  destroyed,  than  to  strike  the  rebellion 
with  heavy  blows.  Let  Fremont  be  removed  at  all 
hazards.  He  was  removed,  and  his  army  was  recalled 
from  Springfield,  and  in  less  than  six  months  another 
army  under  General  Curtis,  pursuing  the  same  plan 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  45 

which  General  Fremont  had  formed,  and  governed  by 
the  very  policy  recommended  in  his  proclamation, 
marched  over  the  same  ground,  under  much  more  ad 
verse  circumstances,  and  met  the  enemy  only  after  a 
tedious  pursuit  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles 
farther  off  than  the  fall  before. 

On  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  November  Abraham  C. 
Coats,  of  Company  C,  was  brought  into  the  regimental 
hospital  in  an  entirely  unconscious  condition.  He  was 
taken  in  the  night  with  what  was  supposed  to  be  a  con- 
jestive  chill.  Every  means  known  to  the  Surgeon  was 
resorted  to  to  restore  him  to  consciousness  and  preserve 
his  life,  but  all  were  unavailing.  He  never  spoke  after 
being  brought  in,  and  died  about  noon  of  the  next  day. 
A  post  mortem  examination  revealed  nothing  to  indi 
cate  the  cause  of  his  death. 

Several  of  the  boys  were  taken  sick  while  in  camp 
here,  and  when  the  regiment  marched  they  were  loaded 
into  an  army  wagon  to  be  transported  to  wherever  the 
regiment  might  be  destined.  One  of  these  died  in  the 
wagon  the  second  night  after  leaving  Springfield  and 
was  buried  by  the  roadside.  The  others,  after  eight 
days'  torture,  arrived,  more  dead  than  alive,  at  Syra 
cuse,  where  they  remained  in  hospital  all  winter. 


CHAPTER  VIII 


On  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  November,  with  sad 
hearts  and  elongated  countenances,  the  Ninth  Missouri 
Volunteers  took  up  the  line  of  march,  which  they  had 
BO  lately  spun  out  in  such  glorious  anticipations,  to 
wind  it  back  to  the  very  place  from  whence  they  had 
started  one  month  before. 

The  weather  still  continued  fine,  but  the  roads  had 
become  so  awful  dusty,  that  suffocation  threatened  to 
be  the  fate  of  every  one  who  traveled  them.  There 
had  been  no  rain  since  leaving  Boonville.  Water  was 
becoming  scarce,  excepting  in  the  larger  streams;  al 
though  Missouri  is  usually  abundantly  supplied  with 
that  refreshing  element.  Abundant  crystal  streams  of 
purest  water ;  springs  bubbling  from  many  a  creviced 
rock  and  wells  of  unfailing  depths,  are  met  with  every 
where  in  southern  Missouri. 

The  regiment  followed  its  old  line  of  march,  until 
after  crossing  the  Osage,  when  it  took  the  most  direct 
road  to  Otterville.  From  Otterville  it  continued  down 
the  railroad  to  Syracuse,  where  it  arrived  on  the  17th 
of  November,  having  marched  from  Springfield  in  eight 
days,  without  rest,  In  its  devious  course  from  Boon 
ville  to  Springfield,  and  from  Springfield  to  Syracuse, 
the  regiment  had  marched  over  three  hundred  miles. 

On  arriving  at  Syracuse,  it  bivoucked  on  a  common 
in  town,  in  anticipation  of  taking  the  cars  in  a  day  or 

(46) 


FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.         47 

two  for  St.  Louis.  Eumor  had  it,  that  the  troops  wer-e 
all  going  to  St.  Louis,  either  to  go  into  winter  quarters 
or  to  be  sent  South.  ~No  one  thought  of  wintering  at 
Syracuse. 

There  was  no  enemy  within  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  of  this  place,  and  a  necessity  for  stopping  here 
did  not  exist.  Yet,  in  this  vicinity  were  they  destined 
to  lay  in  idleness  for  three  long  months. 

As  the  regiment  passed  Warsaw,  on  its  return,  some 
of  the  boys,  who  had  learned  the  working  of  the  wires 
on  their  previous  visit,  again  slipped  from  the  ranks 
and  succeeded  in  getting  their  canteens  filled  with  the 
ardent.  Two  of  these,  on  coming  into  camp  just  in 
the  dusk  of  the  evening,  caused  quite  a  sensation.  They 
had  been  "hale  fellows  well  met,"  until  whisky  had 
got  advantage  of  their  better  judgment,  when  they 
agreed  to  disagree,  and  the  one  using  the  breech  of  his 
gun,  as  the  strongest  argument  he  could  think  of, 
knocked  the  other  over  the  head  with  so  severe  a  blow 
as  to  cause  insensibility.  A  crowd  was  soon  collected, 
and  the  belligerent  one  was  placed  under  guard,  while 
the  defunct  was  hurried  to  the  hospital,  to  be  placed  in 
hands  of  the  Surgeon.  On  examination,  the  Surgeon 
discovered  something  of  a  cut  on  the  scalp,  which  was 
bleeding  pretty  freely;  and  having  a  little  too  much  of 
the  ardent  in  his  own  hat  to  see  single,  he  pronounced 
the  man  mortally  wounded,  with  a  fractured  skull. 

After  having  the  bruise  dressed,  the  Surgeon  retired 
to  his  own  quarters,  leaving  the  impression  that  the 
man  would  not  live  through  the  night;  in  fact  he  gave 
it  as  his  opinion,  that  he  was  in  articuls  mortis  at  this 
moment. 

The  commander  of  the  regiment  placed  the  one  who 
gave  the  death-blow,  under  double  guard,  binding  his 


48         FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

hands  and  feet  so  as  there  should  he  no  possibility  of  es 
cape.  By  and  by  all  retired  to  their  quarters,  and  none, 
except  the  guard  and  the  watchers  by  the  side  of  the 
dying  man,  were  awake  in  camp.  The  man  lay  very 
quiet  until  about  eleven  o'clock,  when  he  was  observed 
to  draw  a  very  heavy  and  prolonged  inspiration.  Soon 
another  followed,  and  his  eyes  opened.  For  a  moment 
they  wandered  restlessly  over  the  tent,  and  then  he 
sprung  to  his  feet. 

"Well !  where  the  hell  am  I?  "What  does  this  mean? 
Say,  what  is  the  meaning  of  this?  Is  this  the  hospital? 
How  is  it  that  I  am  here?  I'm  not  sick.  There  is 
nothing  the  matter  with  me;  where  is  my  quarters, 
say,  I  am  not  going  to  stay  here,  that's  certain ! "  and 
off  he  started  like  a  quarter  horse  for  his  company. 

The  mystery  was,  that  he  was  very  much  intoxicated 
when  he  was  hit,  and  the  blow  only  set  him  into  a  most 
profound  drunken  slumber.  Early  the  next  morning 
the  Colonel  released  the  prisoner,  and  the  Surgeon 
passed  the  joke  in  good  spirits,  although  his  reputation 
in  prognosis  was  somewhat  impaired  by  the  incident. 


CHAPTER    IX. 


On  the  arrival  of  the  regiment  at  Syracuse  it  was 
discovered  that  about  fifty  of  the  men.  were  on  the  sick 
list.  Some  were  quite  sick  from  the  effects  of  the  con 
tinued  jolting  they  had  suffered  in  the  wagons,  while 
others  were  only  worn  down  by  hard  marching. 

The  Surgeon  immediately  took  possession  of  the 
Planter  House,  a  deserted  hotel  in  town,  and  estab 
lished  his  hospital  in  it.  Straw  was  procured,  and  the 
men  were  as  comfortably  placed  upon  it  over  the  floor 
as  circumstances  would  admit. 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th  the  regiment  was  moved 
•out  two  miles  from  town,  and  went  into  regular  camp. 

As  the  men  were  marching  through  the  town  the 
rain  descended  in  torrents,  wetting  them  thoroughly. 
This  was  the  first  rain  seen  since  leaving  Boonville,  and 
was  received  in  high  glee. 

Visions  of  St.  Louis  now  began  to  grow  dim  in  the 
eyes  of  some  of  the  men,  although  many  still  believed 
that  they  were  only  waiting  transportation.  The  Sur 
geon  delayed,  from  day  to  day,  making  any  provisions 
for  the  comfort  of  the  sick,  expecting  orders  to  ship 
them  for  St.  Louis.  But  orders  never  came,  and  it 
became  a  fixed  fact  that  the  regiment  was  to  winter 
here. 

Newspapers  were  brought  to  Syracuse  daily,  and 
something  of  what  was  going  on  in  the  world  could  be 
(4)  (49) 


50  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

learned  from  them.  During  the  last  month  a  news 
paper  had  not  been  seen  in  the  regiment.  Some  of  the 
officers  would  occasionally  get  a  paper,  but  the  soldiers 
never.  From  these  it  was  ascertained  that  the  war  was 
Btill  progressing,  and  that  the  rebellion  was  assuming  a 
magnitude  of  unexpected  dimensions. 

Many  of  the  soldiers  were  led  to  believe,  by  their 
withdrawal  from  Springfield,  that  their  services  would 
not  much  longer  be  required  in  the  field,  and  that  they 
would  soon  be  allowed  to  go  home,  but  on  reading  the 
papers  they  lay  aside  all  such  pleasing  ideas. 

The  weather  was  now  becoming  quite  cool,  and  tents 
were  more  carefully  pitched  than  usual — ditches  were 
dug,  and  embankments  thrown  up,  to  keep  the  cold 
winds  from  blowing  in  under  them.  Good  warm 
blankets  were  issued,  and  a  new  suit  of  clothing  pro 
vided,  so  that,  so  far  as  possible,  suffering  might  be 
prevented.  Plenty  of  wood  was  provided,  and  on  cold 
days  large  fires  were  burning  in  front  of  every  tent. 
At  night  pans  of  living  coals  were  taken  into  the  tents 
as  substitutes  for  stoves.  Thus  they  managed  to  keep 
quite  comfortable.  Army  rations  were  in  abundance, 
and  the  citizens  were  liberal  in  their  supply  of  cakes, 
pies  and  apples,  at  a  moderate  compensation,  and 
sometimes  without  any  pay  whatever.  Occasionally 
one  would  come  into  camp  more  greedy  of  gain  than 
his  neighbor,  or,  perhaps,  tinctured  a  little  with  seces 
sion  proclivities;  in  such  cases  "confiscation"  was  the 
word,  and  his  load  would  soon  disappear,  without  his 
being  any  the  richer. 

The  sick  men,  who  were  left  at  Boonville  under  the 
care  of  Doctor  Maynard,  now  joined  the  regiment. 
"Without  an  exception,  the  kind  care  and  judicious  treat 
ment  of  this  excellent  Surgeon  had  restored  all  to  good 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  51 

health,  and  they  joined  the  regiment  in  good  spirits, 
and  were  welcomed  most  cordially  by  their  comrades. 

About  the  10th  of  December  the  regiment  broke 
camp  here  and  moved  out  to  the  bottoms  of  the  La- 
moine  river.  The  object  of  the  move  was  the  erection 
of  fortifications  for  the  defense  of  the  railroad  bridge 
across  the  Lamoine.  Their  camp  was  selected  on  some 
swamp-bottom  lands  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river.  The 
boys  were  immediately  set  to  work  cutting  the  trees 
and  cleaning  off  the  grounds,  while  details  were  sent  off 
to  work  on  the  fortifications  on  the  opposite  bank  of 
the  river. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th  marching  orders  were 
issued  for  the  next  day,  and  on  the  15th,  through  a 
heavy  snow  storm,  they  marched  to  Sedalia,  twenty-five 
miles  distant.  The  roads  were  bad,  and  the  marching 
very  heavy,  yet  most  of  the  men  came  into  camp  with 
the  regiment.  They  were  marched  out  for  the  purpose 
of  cutting  off*  recruits  and  a  large  supply  train  going  to 
Price's  army.  When  they  arrived  at  Sedalia  the  work 
was  being  accomplished  by  another  portion  of  the  Div 
ision.  A  part  of  Davis'  Division  had  taken  another 
route,  and  had  succeeded  in  overtaking  and  capturing 
some  seventy  wagons  and  one  thousand  one  hundred 
prisoners,  among  whom  was  the  son  of  the  old  General. 
The  Kinth  Missouri  consequently  had  nothing  to  do 
but  march  back  to  its  camp  on  the  Lamoine.  This  it 
was  two  days  in  accomplishing.  Thus  marching  fifty 
miles  in  three  days.  Thus  making  in  all,  since  leaving 
Boonville,  fully  four  hundred  miles.  Here  the  regiment 
remained  until  the  25th  of  January,  1862. 

When  the  regiment  removed  from  Syracuse  to  the 
Lamoine,  the  Surgeon,  Doctor  Hazlett,  went  with  them, 
leaving  sixty  sick  men  at  Syracuse  in  charge  of  the 


52  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

Hospital  Steward,  without  having  made  any  prepara 
tions  yet  for  their  comfort.  The  building  was  very 
well  calculated  for  an  hospital,  but  needed  renovating 
very  badly,  and  should  have  had  bunks  built  for  the 
patients  to  lay  on;  but  nothing  of  the  kind  had  been 
attended  to;  and  now,  to  attend  to  the  wants  of  sixty 
eick  men,  only  one  nurse,  one  cook  and  the  Steward, 
were  to  be  had.  Many  of  the  men  were  desperately 
sick,  and  should  have  had  better  care  taken  of  them ; 
but,  fortunately,  only  two  cases  proved  fatal  after  the 
Surgeon  left — Henry  Bue,  of  Company  F,  on  the  1st 
day  of  January,  1862,  and  John  Rule,  of  Company  D, 
on  the  28th  of  the  same  month.  Two  also  died  while 
the  Surgeon  was  in  attendance — .Boston  Cherrington, 
of  Company  A,  and  McClenning,  of  Company  E.  At 
the  Lamoine,  Phillip  Shindola,  of  Company  B,  James 
Ed-wards,  Company  C,  George  W.  Lewis  and  William 
St.  George,  Company  B,  and  William  S.  Gore,  Com 
pany  F,  were  taken  sick,  and  died  in  January,  1862. 

The  living  at  the  Hospital  consisted  of  beef,  pilot- 
bread,  sugar  and  coffee  or  tea. 

There  was  an  hospital  fund  of  money,  accumulated 
by  the  commutation  of  rations  belonging  to  sick  men; 
but,  as  with  the  ambulances,  the  Surgeons  are  some 
times  dishonest  enough  to  appropriate  this  fund  to  their 
own  use.  The  cooking  facilities  about  the  hospital 
consisted  in  a  camp-kettle,  (holding  about  five  gallons,) 
for  coffee  or  tea,  and  one  of  the  same  size  for  boiling 
beef,  and  a  log  fire  out  of  doors.  With  these  facilities 
the  cook  prepared  the  rations  for  sixty  sick  soldiers  for 
over  two  months,  rain,  snow  or  shine,  as  the  case 
might  be. 

The  manner  of  feeding  the  patients  was  thus :  The 
kettle  of  coffee  and  soup  is  brought  into  the  center  of 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  53 

the  room  where  the  sick  are,  and  tin-cups  are  filled  and 
handed  round,  and  a  "  shingle"  (pilot  cracker)  is  handed 
at  the  same  time,  with  a  piece  of  boiled  beef  on  it.  If 
the  patient  has  had  money  he  has  perhaps  provided 
himself  with  a  biscuit  or  piece  of  light  bread,  pur 
chased  of  some  citizen.  The  men  set  around  over  the 
floor  on  their  straw  pallets,  and  eat,  some  swearing  at 
the  coffee,  and  some  cursing  the  soup,  and  all  making 
some  remark  or  other  about  the  fare.  One,  for  in 
stance,  would  like  some  potatoes  or  chicken  soup;  one 
some  bread  and  milk,  one  some  corn  bread,  and  another 
would  fancy  rnush  and  milk.  Sometimes  these  things 
could  be  procured  by  paying  their  own  money  for 
them,  and  thus  there  would  be  a  feast.  Poor  fellows! 
They  deserve  better  things  than  these,  but  it  is  impos 
sible  for  the  Steward  and  attendants  to  provide  any 
thing  more  suitable.  May  God  forgive  those  who 
should  look  after  these  things  for  neglecting  their  duty, 
or  for  being  dishonest. 

The  soldier  in  camp  lives  very  similar  to  this: 
Messes  are  formed  from  the  occupants  of  one  tent,  per 
haps  numbering  four  or  five,  or  more;  the  rations  are 
drawn,  and  all  cooked  in  the  same  vessels.  A  small 
camp-kettle  supplies  them  with  coffee,  and  a  larger 
one  with  boiled  beef,  bean-soup,  etc.  Then,  with  tin- 
cups,  tin-plates,  knives  and  forks,  they  pitch  in,  each 
one  helping  himself  until  he  is  satisfied.  "While  eating 
he  either  stands  or  sits  on  the  ground,  as  he  may  elect. 
Thus  they  live  day  after  day  and  month  after  month 
and  no  variety  unless  they  buy  and  pay  for  it  them! 
selves.  Many  of  them  do  spend  all  their  wages  in  buy 
ing  something  to  eat.  It  is  amusing  to  look  through 
the  streets  of  Syracuse,  and  see  the  soldiers  buying  the 
luxuries  that  the  farmers'  wives  bring  to  town  to  sell. 


54  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

Here  are  several  wagons,  surrounded  by  soldiers,  buying 
and  trying  to  buy,  sausage  meat,  fresh  pork,  chickens, 
butter,  eggs,  pies,  cakes,  corn-bread,  milk,  apples,  etc. 
The  argus  eyes  of  the  ladies  are  kept  busy,  or  else  they 
make  small  profits.  While  many  are  honestly  paying 
for  what  they  get,  others  are  playing  confiscation,  and 
dishonestly  getting  what  they  do  not  pay  for.  Pies 
and  cakes  are  in  great  demand;  and  such  pies!  The 
pie-crust  is  made  by  wetting  some  flour  with  water  un 
til  it  becomes  pasty,  some  sour  apples  are  then  wrapped 
up  in  it,  and  it  is  then  dried  in  a  moderately  heated 
oven.  "When  it  is  sufficiently  done  it  can't  be  broken, 
but  must  be  twisted  asunder  and  swallowed  in  mass; 
yet  the  soldiers  pay  a  quarter  for  such  pies,  and  con 
sider  them  a  luxury. 

The  first  case  of  bushwhacking  known  to  the  regi 
ment  occurred  at  Syracuse.  A  boy  belonging  to  the 
Eighth  Indiana  Regiment  was  on  his  way  to  join  his 
regiment,  and  stopping  at  the  hospital  to  ascertain 
where  he  would  find  it,  was  induced  to  stay  a  clay  or 
two  before  going  farther.  The  day  following  he  walked 
out  into  the  brush,  about  one  hundred  yards  from  the 
hospital,  and  was  shot  down  by  some  unseen  hand. 
The  report  of  the  gun  was  heard  at  the  hospital,  and  in 
a  few  moments  the  body  was  found,  laying  on  the 
snow,  in  a  dying  condition.  There  was  an  inch  or  two 
of  snow  on  the  ground,  and  it  was  thought  the  mur 
derer  might  be  found  by  his  foot-prints  in  the  snow. 
Several  of  the  boys  from  the  hospital  started  imme 
diately  in  pursuit.  The  afternoon  was  spent  in  follow 
ing  foot  marks  through  the  woods,  but  nothing  definite 
was  ever  learned  of  who  committed  the  murder.  One 
of  the  scouts  reported  on  his  return  that  "the  scoundrel 
would  never  shoot  another  soldier,"  intimating  that  he 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  55 

had  overtaken  and  shot  the  bushwhacker;  but  credit 
was  not  given  to  his  story. 

Toward  the  latter  part  of  January,  1862,  a  post  hos 
pital  was  established  at  Otterville.,  near  the  Lamoine, 
and  Dr.  Hazlett,  Surgeon  of  the  Ninth  Missouri,  was 
appointed  Post  Surgeon.  Dr.  Maynard,  in  consequence, 
was  relieved  at  Boonville,  and,  greatly  to  the  satisfac 
tion  of  the  boys,  took  charge  of  the  regiment.  The 
Regimental  Hospital  Steward  being  yet  at  Syracuse,  Dr. 
Maynard  requested  the  Colonel  of  the  regiment  to  order 
him  to  report  to  him  for  duty,  as  his  presence  was  more 
needed  at  the  regiment  than  at  the  hospital.  The 
patients  at  Syracuse  were  about  being  removed  to 
Otterville. 

From  this  request  of  Doctor  Maynard  resulted  a  de 
cision  which  may  be  of  importance  to  many  hospital 
stewards  in  the  army.  Many  young  men  receive  the 
appointment  of  hospital  steward  without  knowing  or 
inquiring  to  whom  they  are  responsible  for  their  good 
conduct,  or  whose  orders  they  are  in  duty  bound  to 
obey.  Hence  they  are  imposed  upon  by  the  surgeons, 
and  are  made  nothing  less  than  menials  for  those  vam 
pires  of  the  Government.  On  the  request  of  Doctor 
Maynard,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Frederick,  commanding 
the  regiment,  issued  the  order  desired.  On  the  same 
day  Doctor  Hazlett,  Surgeon  of  the  regiment,  issued  a 
similar  order  for  the  Steward  to  report  to  him  at  Otter 
ville  for  duty.  The  decision  in  the  case  was,  that  "  the 
Steward  was  subject  only  to  the  orders  of  the  com 
manding  officer  of  the  regiment."  This  decision  has 
since  been  confirmed.  A  hospital  steward  is  not  a 
surgeon's  orderly. 

Rumor  now  prevailed  that  the  regiment  would  leave 
the  Lamoine  in  a  short  time,  and  outside  movements 


56         FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

tended  very  much  toward  confirming  the  rumor.  The 
sick  were  all  ordered  to  Otterville;  the  hospital  stores 
were  inspected  and  reported,  and  any  deficiency  in  the 
supply  was  ordered  to  be  filled.  There  was,  however, 
no  want  of  hospital  supplies  at  this  time,  thanks  to  the 
ladies  of  Wisconsin. 

A  delegation  from  those  charitable  ladies  had,  but  a 
few  days  before,  visited  the  army,  with  a  large  quantity 
of  comforts,  quilts,  drawers,  shirts,  handkerchiefs,  and 
magazines  and  newspapers,  which  they  distributed  to 
hospitals  at  the  towns,  and  to  the  regiments,  with  lib 
eral  hands.  God  will  abundantly  bless  the  ladies  of 
Wisconsin.  When  they  have  forgotten  that  their 
hands  had  prepared  these  inestimable  presents  for  the 
soldier,  his  prayers  will  be  ascending  in  their  behalf; 
The  death-bed  of  the  soldier  is  made  comfortable  by 
the  thoughtful  liberality  of  these  kind  friends,  and  their 
hearts  go  out  in  thankful  praises  and  gratitude  to  the 
fair  donors. 


CHAPTER  X. 


Orders  were  received  by  the  regiment,  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  23d,  to  be  ready  to  march  at  8  o'clock,  on 
the  morning  of  the  25th,  with  three  days  rations  in  the 
haversack  of  each  soldier. 

The  morning  of  the  25th  of  January,  1862,  made  its 
appearance,  clear  and  cold,  and  found  the  regiment  in 
marching  trim.  Some  of  the  boys  would  have  preferred 
waiting  a  day  or  two,  as  they  were  expecting  a  large 
supply  of  good  things,  from  home.  Some  companies 
had  already  received  their  boxes  of  pies,  cakes,  turkeys, 
butter  and  et  ceteras ;  but  one  or  two  other  companies 
had  failed  to  receive  theirs,  and  were  looking  for  them 
by  every  train.  Letters  had  informed  them  of  their 
being  on  the  way,  and  the  boys  were  starving  to  have 
them  arrive;  but  there  was  no  help  for  it,  they  must 
march  and  leave  their  i goodies'  for  some  one  else  to 
devour.  It  was  too  bad  to  so  disapppoint  the  kind 
good  friends  at  home,  and  still  worse  to  be  so  disap 
pointed  themselves.  There  was  no  use  of  lamentations. 
At  8  o'clock  the  bugle  sounded  to  fall  in,  and  the  troops 
moved  out.  The  direction  taken,  was  down  the  rail 
road,  towards  Syracuse ;  but  before  night,  Syracuse 
was  left  in  the  rear,  and  Tipton,  a  small  town  six  miles 
farther  east,  was  approached.  Here  the  regiment  went 
into  camp  for  the  night.  Early  the  next  morning,  the 
regiment  crossed  the  railroad,  and  moved  in  a  south- 

(57) 


58  FIFTY-NINTH  REGIMENT 

erly  direction,  leaving  all  hopes  of  going  to  St.  Louis, 
at  Tipton.  While  on  this  day's  march,  an  amusing 
incident  occurred,  showing  conclusively  in  which  direc 
tion  the  feelings  of  the  soldier  inclines. 

One  Moore,  a  citizen  of  Syracuse,  with  his  overseer, 
came  riding  along  by  the  regiments,  in  search  of  one 
of  his  slaves.  The  negro  had  disappeared  from  Syra 
cuse,  the  day  before,  and  old  Moore  had  rightly  sus 
pected  that  he  had  joined  the  army.  The  Ninth  Mis 
souri,  happened  to  be  the  regiment  he  was  with.  On 
discovering  the  boy,  old  Moore  rode  up  to  him,  and 
ordered  that  he  mount  behind  the  overseer  and  ride 
back  to  town.  The  soldiers  soon  crowded  around 
between  the  negro  and  his  master,  and  ordered  the  latter 
to  leave.  The  old  gentleman  did  not  incline  to  do  so, 
without  taking  his  negro  with  him.  But  the  throats 
and  threatening  attitude  of  some  of  the  boys,  gave  him 
to  understand  that  he  was  not  safe  in  remaining,  and 
concluding  that,  discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor, 
he  began  an  inglorious  retreat,  which  at  first  was  slow 
and  reluctant;  but  as  missiles  of  different  kinds  began 
to  increase  in  thickness,  his  own  speed  increased  accord 
ingly,  until  him  and  his  man  Friday,  disappeared  under 
a  sharp  run  of  their  horses.  Nothing  more  was  ever 
heard  of  old  Moore,  but  his  negro  continued  a  good 
servant  in  the  regiment,  for  more  than  a  year. 

The  march  was  now  continued  through  a  very  wild 
and  broken  region  of  country,  with  very  bad  roads  and 
stormy  weather,  until  the  2d  day  of  February,  when 
the  Osage  river  was  again  to  be  crossed. 

The  regiment  went  into  camp,  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  Osage,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  2d,  during  a  heavy 
snow  storm.  The  weather  had  been  stormy,  ever  since 
leaving  Syracuse,  and  here  it  culminated  in  a  cold  driv- 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  59 

ing  snow  storm.  No  one  who  has  not  experienced  the 
trial,  can  imagine  how  disagreeable  it  is  to  go  into 
camp  under  such  circumstances  as  now  surrounded  the 
army.  Rainy  weather  can  he  endured,  and  even  enjoyed, 
as  was  proven  on  this  march  ;  but  cold  snowy  weather 
is  very  trying  to  the  nerves. 

One  evening  the  regiment  went  into  camp,  on  a  low' 
piece  of  meadow  land,  near  the  Gravoi  creek,  after 
inarching  in  the  rain  all  day.  They  were  wet,  muddy 
and  hungry.  Orders  had  been  issued  to  burn  no  rails 
on  this  march,  under  severe  penalties.  But  here  there 
was  no  other  wood  convenient,  and  the  question  with 
the  boys  was,  how  are  we  to  make  coffee?  Twi 
light  was  consumed  in  trying  to  find  something  to  start 
a  fire  with,  but  without  success.  As  soon  as  darkness 
became  visible,  the  rails  began  to  move  from  the  fence 
enclosing  the  meadow,  and  in  half  an  hour  thereafter, 
most  genial  and  glowing  fires  were  burning  in  all  direc 
tions.  Owing  to  bad  roads,  the  camp  equipage  did  not 
come  up  till  towards  morning,  consequently  there  was 
no  tents  to  pitch,  and  the  entire  night  was  spent  by 
many  of  the  boys,  in  dancing  and  whooping  around  the 
fires,  in  seemingly  the  most  perfect  enjoyment,  although 
it  rained  in  torrents.  The  next  morning  disclosed  the 
fact  that  the  meadow  was  all  out-doors. 

The  question  now  arose,  "how  is  the  river  to  be 
crossed?" 

"Look  yonder,"  says  a  boy  pointing  down  the  river. 
"Tender's  a  steamboat." 

A  steamboat  on  the  Osage  river !  This  was  a  sur 
prise,  no  one  had  thought  of  crossing  the  river  on  a 
steamboat,  but  it  seems  that  small  boats  had  occasion 
ally  made  their  trips  up  to  this  point,  and  now  one  was 


60  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

here  expressly  to  assist  in  crossing  the  army.  She  was 
just  getting  up  steam,  and  pretty  soon  the  troops  com 
menced  crossing.  While  the  troops  were  crossing  on 
the  boat,  the  trains  and  artillery  were  crossing  on  a 
military  bridge,  constructed  for  the  purpose.  By  noon 
of  the  4th,  the  whole  command  was  in  camp,  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  river. 

The  troops  lay  here  on  the  5th  to  rest.  The  town, 
at  the  mouth  of  Sinn  creek,  is  mostly  deserted,  the 
citizens  being  mostly  rebels.  The  wealthiest  and  most 
respected  one  among  them,  is  a  Union  man,  and  has 
given  his  money  and  influence  freely,  in  support  of  the 
Government.  A  few  weeks  ago,  he  had  a  very  large 
store  here,  and  was  doing  an  extensive  business,  but  a 
squad  of  rebel  Jayhawkers,  visited  him,  and  nearly 
robbed  his  store  of  all  its  goods.  A  remnant  only  was 
left.  These  were  purchased  by  'our'  boys,  now,  at  their 
own  price,  which  was  not  at  a  great  profit  to  the  owner. 
The  owner  is  now  absent,  and  our  boys  do  their  own 
clerking.  Hats,  caps,  tobacco,  and  cigars,  seem  to  be 
most  ready  sale.  Here  the  boys  also  procured  some 
excellent  cherry-bounce,  on  which  they  had  a  real 
jollification. 

On  the  6th,  the  line  of  march  was  taken  up,  and 
continued  towards  Lebanon,  where  the  regiment  ar 
rived  on  the  evening  of  the  7th.  These  were  two 
days  heavy  marching,  making  fourteen  miles  on  the 
6th,  and  sixteeen  miles  on  the  7th,  on  very  hilly  and 
muddy  roads.  It  is  called  seventy-five  miles  from  here 
to  Syracuse ;  but  in  coming,  the  regiment  had  marched 
some  days  twelve  miles,  and  were  at  night,  only  five 
miles  from  the  place  of  starting.  Thus  making  at  least, 
eighty-five  miles  in  ten  days  marching,  through  the 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  61 

most  inclement  weather,  and  over  the  worst  possible 
roads. 

The  regiment  went  into  camp,  a  few  miles  west  of 
Lebanon,  and  lay  by  on  the  8th  and  9th,  to  await  the 
arrival  of  more  troops. 

While  laying  here,  John  Baker,  of  Company  F,  died, 
and  was  buried  in  the  grave  yard  at  Lebanon. 

The  9th,  is  the  Sabbath  day — a  day  appointed  and 
established  among  Christians  for  public  worship,  and  as 
a  day  of  rest  from  labor ;  but  among  the  5,000  men 
that  are  here,  very  few  are  aware  that  it  is  Sunday,  or 
a  day  of  rest. 

The  fife  and  drums  are  playing  and  beating  as  lively, 
as  on  any  week  day,  and  the  men  are  as  busy  drilling 
as  they  were  through  the  week  days,  in  regular  camp. 
It  is  the  first  sunny  day  for  two  weeks,  and  hence  the 
lively  appearance  of  camp.  A  brass  band  is  discoursing 
sweet  music,  over  towards  Lebanon,  which  can  be  heard 
very  distinctly  by  the  Ninth,  and  some  of  the  boys  are 
enjoying  its  melody,  instead  of  participating  in  the 
hilarity  of  those  around  them. 

A  sham  battle  is  to  be  fought  this  afternoon,  in  antici 
pation  of  a  real  one,  which  is  expected  to  be  had  with 
the  enemy,  in  a  few  days.  Price  is  reported  to  be  forti 
fying  himself,  seventeen  miles  this  side  of  Springfield, 
which  is  about  thirty  miles  from  here.  The  battle  has 
been  decided,  and  now  preparations  are  being  made  for 
an  early  march  in  the  morning. 

While  laying  here,  a  gentleman  and  lady,  of  African 
descent,  who  had  been  with  the  regiment  since  leaving 
St.  Louis,  concluded  that  they  would  retire  from  the 
army,  to  the  shades  of  private  life.  The  man  had 
gained  the  confidence  of  the  boys,  and  on  leaving,  they 


62          FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

placed  in  his  hands  a  considerable  sum  of  money,  to  be 
given  to  their  friends  at  home.  One  man  gave  him  a 
good  horse,  to  take  for  him,  to  St.  Louis.  He  departed, 
and  so  the  money  and  horse  departed  with  him,  and 
neither  was  ever  heard  of  afterwards.  The  temptation 
was  too  great  for  a  negro's  cupidity. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


On  the  morning  of  the  10th,  the  army  was  again 
on  the  move,  the  Ninth  Missouri  bringing  up  the  rear 
of  Jeff.  C.  Davis'  division.  The  roads  were  very  bad, 
but  the  weather  was  favorable,  and  the  country  more 
level  than  from  Syracuse  here.  The  sick  and  much 
extra  baggage  was  left  at  Lebanon,  to  be  brought  up  at 
a  more  convenient  season. 

It  was  now  anticipated  that  the  enemy  would  be  at 
tempting  to  impede  the  advance  of  our  army,  but  no 
indications  of  their  presence  was  discovered  until  the 
evening  of  the  12th.  About  one  o'clock,  of  the  12th, 
General  Sigel's  column,  which  was  advancing  on 
another  road,  some  half  mile  to  our  left,  came  upon 
their  out-posts  pickets,  and  a  sharp  skirmish  ensued. 
As  soon,  however,  as  a  piece  of  artillery  could  be 
brought  to  bear  upon  them,  they  fled  in  confusion, 
leaving  the  road  undisputed.  This  was  the  first  firing 
of  artillery  the  Ninth  Missouri  had  ever  heard,  and  it 
caused  a  general  excitement.  The  army  halted  about 
four  o'clock,  in  a  good  position,  and  several  companies 
from  the  different  regiments  were  sent  out  through  the 
woods  as  skirmishers.  Companies  F  and  A  of  th«* 
Ninth,  was  ordered  to  scout  the  woods  for  a  mile  or 
two  in  front.  They  were  very  proud  of  the  distinction, 
and  elicited  the  envy  of  the  other  companies.  With 
erect  and  martial  step,  those  two  companies — the  one, 

(63) 


64  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

(company  F,)  commanded  by  Captain  Kelly;  the  other, 
(company  A,)  by  Captain  Hale — filed  oft'  into  the  woods 
in  search  of  the  hidden  foe.  The  boys  in  camp  listened 
anxiously  for  the  report  of  fire  arms,  and  soon,  in  the 
distance,  several  volleys  of  musketry  announced  that 
the  enemy  had  been  found. 

On  the  return  of  our  skirmishers  in  the  morning, 
they  reported,  that  before  they  had  advanced  over  half 
a  mile,  they  heard  firing  in  their  front,  and  that  Major 
Black,  commanding  the  skirmishers,  ordered  an  ad 
vance  on  double  quick.  The  underbrush  was  thick 
and  intensely  dark,  but  by  strenuous  efforts  the  men 
succeeded  in  reaching  an  open  space  and  getting  into 
line  of  battle,  just  as  the  rebels  began  to  disappear  in 
an  inglorious  retreat.  Some  five  hundred  rebels  had 
made  a  vigorous  attack  upon  our  cavalry  pickets,  (First 
Missouri,)  but  had  been  handsomely  repulsed,  with  a 
loss  of  five  killed  and  thirteen  wounded,  before  the  in 
fantry  could  come  up. 

Before  going  out,  many  of  the  boys  took  the  precau 
tion  to  leave  their  money  and  valuables  in  the  hands 
of  their  friends,  so  that  if  they  should  be  killed  or  cap 
tured,  their  effects  would  be  safe. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  the  army  was 
again  in  motion.  Springfield  was  now  only  seventeen 
miles  distant,  and  no  fortifications  were  yet  discovered. 
Price  is  now  known  to  be  at  Springfield,  and  he  must 
either  fight  or  run  within  the  next  forty-eight  hours. 

The  army  proceeded  to  within  five  miles  of  Spring 
field  without  any  indications  of  the  enemy;  but  now 
coming  to  an  open  country  the  troops  were  halted,  and 
a  long  line  of  battle  was  formed  across  a  very  large 
piece  of  meadow  land.  The  line  was  formed  in  front 
of  some  heavy  timber  skirting  the  meadow,  and  the 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  65 

supposition  was  that  the  enemy  was  posted  in  the  tim 
ber,  ready  for  battle.  The  troops  marched  into  line  on 
double  quick,  and  in  splendid  style.  The  Wmth  Mis 
souri,  led  by  its  noble  commander,  Lieut.  Colonel  C.  H. 
^Frederick,  now  had  an  opportunity  of  displaying  its 
proficiency  in  rapidity  of  action,  and  fell  into  line  with 
the  precision  of  veterans.  Very  soon  the  whole  line 
Tfas  formed,  and  the  men  standing  on  their  arms  await 
ing  further  orders.  General  Curtis  and  staff  now  rode 
along  the  line,  with  the  announcement  that  Springfield 
was  in  our  possession.  Price  had  evacuated  without  a 
fight.  The  news  was  received  with  a  shout  and  the 
tossing  of  hats  in  the  air,  mingled  with  curses  and 
maledictions.  Although  it  was  pleasing  news,  yet  the 
disappointment  in  not  getting  satisfaction  out  of  the 
infernal  scoundrels,  was  great  among  the  troops.  The 
line  of  -battle  was  now  broken  and  the  troops  again 
formed  into  marching  order.  And  now  commenced 
the  most  wonderful  retreat  and  pursuit  of  two  oppos 
ing  armies,  that  the  world  had  ever  witnessed. 

Price  commenced  the  evacuation  of  Springfield  on 
the  12th,  and  in  four  hours  after  the 'rear  of  his  army 
had  left  the  town,  our  advance  was  passing  through  in 
pursuit.  It  was  said  by  the  rebel  sympathisers  in  town, 
that  Price  would  make  a  stand  at  Wilson's  Creek,  ten 
miles  below  town ;  that  he  had  twenty  thousand  fight 
ing  men,  and  would  drive  Curtis  as  he  had  General 
Lyon  the  summer  before.  It  was  more  than  probable 
that  the  rebel  army  numbered  at  least  that  many, 
if  not  more.  Price  had  returned  from  Lexington  to 
Springfield,  on  the  23d  of  December,  1861,  with  his 
whole  army,  and  had  been  using  all  his  energies  to 
recruit  and  fill  up  his  army  until  now.  "He  began  la 
raise  fifty  thousand  men  for  the  Southern  Confederacy.. 
(5) 


66  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

the  object  of  which  was  to  secure  him  the  commission 
of  Major  General  in  the  Southern  Confederacy.  He 
sooii  accomplished  his  object. 

The  men  are  sworn  into  the  service  for  twelve 
months.  Several  regiments  of  the  State  Guard  were, 
soon  broken  up;  they  went  into  it  very  readily,  be 
cause  they  were  made  to  believe  that  as  soon  as  Price 
was  promoted,  he  would  have  power  to  order  troops 
from  any  of  the  Southern  States,  and  that  they  would 
soon  make  a  clean  thing  of  it  in  Missouri,  and  also  in 
vade  Kansas  and  leave  it  as  the  Lord  made  it,  without 
a  house  to  shelter  Jayhawkers.  These  men  felt  confi 
dent  that  they  would  soon  be  let  loose  to  accomplish 
this  glorious  work,  and  were  highly  delighted  with  the 
idea,  but  the  poor  fellows  were  badly  fooled/5  General 
Curtis  and  his  brave  boys  were  now  rather  interfering 
with  their  glorious  anticipations. 

The  army  made  no  delay  in  passing  thiough  town, 
but  marched  about  three  miles  beyond,  before  going 
into  camp.  Camp  was  pitched  on  a  large  farm  belong 
ing  to  an  old  rebel,  and  his  effects  had  now  fallen  into 
unsparing  hands.  '  The  old  gentleman  had  left  a  large, 
fine  house,  large  barn  and  good  log  stable  on  his  prem 
ises.  The  log  stable  was  designed  and  worked  up  into 
quite  a  strong  fort  for  the  protection  of  the  house  and 
barn.  Heavy  timbers  and  earth  were  so  thrown  to 
gether  as  to  be  a  perfect  defence  against  musket  balls, 
and  port  holes  were  opened  for  the  use  of  the  besieged. 
But  they  dare  not  use  it  at  this  time,  and  our  boys  soon 
made  it  untenable  in  the  future.  Soon  after  dark  the 
house  and  barn  afforded  plenty  of  light  to  see  to  go  to 
bed  by,  all  over  camp.  Every  thing  about  the  premises 
was  destroyed.  The  next  morning  ashes  and  embers 
alone  marked  the  suot  where  the  house  and  barn  stood ; 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  67 

and  posts  and  bottom  rails  indicated  where  fences  had 
been. 

On  the  14th  the  march  was  continued  to  "Wilson's 
Creek,  for  dinner,  and  several  miles  beyond  for  camp. 
"Wilson's  Creek  is  the  scene  of  General  Lyon's  defeat 
and  death,  and  the  writer  can  do  no  better  than  trans 
cribe,  from  Abbott's  History  of  the  Civil  War  in 
America,  an  account  of  the  whole  affair: 

Wilson's  Creek  is  a  tributary  of  White  River.  From 
the  village  of  Springfield,  there  is  one  road  leading  to 
Fayetteville,  Arkansas,  running  in  a  south-westerly  di 
rection.  Another  road  pursuing  a  course  nearly  due 
west,  conducts  to  Mount  Yernon.  Along  the  banks  of 
Wilson's  Creek  there  is  a  cross  road,  which  connects 
the  Fayetteville  and  the  Mount  Vernon  roads.  The 
valley  of  this  creek  is  about  twenty  rods  in  width, 
bounded  by  gentle  sloping  hills,  which  are  covered  with 
scrub  oaks  a  few  feet  high,  except  where  the  land  is  in 
cultivation.  Upon  this  cross  road  about  three  miles  in 
length,  equally  accessible  from  Springfield  by  either  of 
the  roads  we  have  mentioned,  the  rebel  camp  was 
situated. 

Concealed  by  the  shades  of  evening,  on  the  9th  of 
August,  General  Lyon,  with  floating  banners,  but  silent 
bands,  emerged  from  the  streets  of  Springfield,  to  at 
tack  by  surprise,  if  possible,  the  foe,  outnumbering  him 
nearly  three  to  one.  His  force  was  divided;  one  part 
under  his  own  command,  moved  along  the  Mount  Ver 
non  road,  to  attack  the  enemy  in  front,  while  the  other 
part,  under  the  intrepid  Colonel  Sigel,  with  six  pieces 
of  artillery,  two  companies  of  cavalry,  and  several  regi 
ments  of  infantry,  took  the  Fayetteville  road,  with 
instructions  to  attack  the  rebels  in  the  rear.  Precau 
tions  were  taken,  to  render  the  surprise  as  complete  as 


68  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

possible,  and  it  was  hoped  that  the  rebels,  distracted  by 
the  presence  of  an  enemy,  thus  unexpectedly  assailing 
them  on  both  sides,  and  taken  by  surprise,  might  be 
effectually  put  to  flight.  It  is  proper  to  add,  that  the 
term  of  service  of  the  Fifth  Regiment  of  Missouri  Vol 
unteers,  had  expired ;  that  Colonel  Sigel,  had  gone  to 
hem,  company  by  company,  and  by  his  personal  influ 
ence,  had  induced  them  to  re-enlist  for  eight  days;  that 
this  re-enlistment  expired  on  the  9th,  the  day  before 
the  battle;  that  many  of  the  officers  had  gone  home, 
and  that  a  considerable  part  of  Sigel's  force,  was  com 
posed  of  raw  recruits. 

The  morning  of  the  10th  of  August,  was  just  begin 
ning  to  dawn,  when  Colonel  Sigel  cautiously  arrived 
within  a  mile  of  the  rebel  camp.  So  quietly  did  he 
advance,  that  some  forty  of  the  rebels  going  from  their 
camp  to  get  water  and  provisions,  were  taken  prisoners 
without  being  able  to  give  their  commanders  any  warn 
ing  of  their  danger.  Silently  the  Union  troops  ascended 
the  hills,  which  bordered  the  creek,  and  there  beheld 
spread  out  before  them,  the  tents  of  the  foe.  The  rebels 
were  at  their  breakfast.  Colonel  Sigel  bringing  his 
artillery  into  position,  with  a  well  directed  shot  into 
the  midst  of  their  encampment,  gave  the  rebels  the  first 
intimation  of  his  presence.  They  were  thrown  into 
utter  disorder,  by  the  suddenness  of  the  surprise,  and 
retreated  in  confusion  down  the  valley.  The  infantry 
pursued,  and  quickly  formed  in  the  camp,  so  lately 
occupied  by  the  rebels.  The  rebels,  however,  recover 
ing  from  the  first  panic,  were  almost  as  quickly  formed 
into  line  of  battle,  and  Colonel  Sigel  found  his  little  force 
opposed  by  one,  three  thousand  strong.  The  artillery 
men  moved  down  into  the  valley,  to  co-operate  with 
the  infantry,  and  after  a  short  fight,  the  enemy  retired 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  t>9 

in  some  confusion.  Meanwhile,  the  sound  of  heavy 
firing  from  the  other  end  of  the  valley,  was  distinctly 
heard,  and  it  was  evident  that  Lyon  was  there,  engaging 
the  enemy  in  force.  In  order  to  aid  Lyon,  Colonel 
Sigel  pressed  forward  his  columns  tip  the  valley,  select 
ing  a  position  to  cut  off'  any  attempted  retreat  of  the 
enemy.  He  had  already  succeeded  in  taking  over  one 
hundred  prisoners,  when  by  a  natural,  but  unfortunate 
mistake,  his  well-laid  plans  were  overturned,  and  he 
was  compelled  to  retreat.  The  firing  in  the  north-west 
had  ceased.  He  presumed  that  Lyon  had  been  success 
ful,  and  that  his  troops  were  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 
This  was  confirmed  by  the  appearance  to  the  east  of 
him,  of  large  bodies  of  rebels,  apparently  retreating  to 
the  south.  Of  course  there  could  be  no  communications 
between  him  and  Lyon,  as  the  rebel  force  was  directly 
between  them.  At  this  juncture,  word  was  brought  to 
Colonel  Sigel,  that  Lyon's  forces  were  advancing  tri 
umphantly  up  -the  road.  His  troops  were  told  not  to 
fire  upon  them,  and  with  exultant  hearts,  they  waved 
their  flags,  to  those  whom  they  supposed  to  be  their 
victorious  comrades. 

Suddenly  from  the  advancing  troops,  there  burst  upon 
Sigel's  little  band,  a  point-blank  destructive  fire,  which 
covered  the  ground  with  the  dying  and  the  dead.  At 
the  same  moment,  from  the  adjoining  hills,  where  they 
had  supposed  that  Lyon's  victorious  troops  were  pursu 
ing  the  enemy,  there  came  plunging  down  upon  them 
shot  and  shell,  from  a  rebel  battery.  The  Unionists 
were  thrown  into  utter  confusion,  for  they  still  believed 
that  the  volleys  which  swept  their  ranks,  came  from 
their  friends.  The  gloom  of  the  morning,  and  the 
absence  of  all  uniform,  prevented  the  prompt  detection 
of  the  error.  The  cry  ran  from  mouth  to  mouth,  "our 


70  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

friends  are  firing  upon  us."  The  soldiers  could  not 
be  dissuaded  from  this  belief,  until  many  had  fallen. 
Nearly  all  the  artillery  horses  were  shot  down  at  their 
guns,  and  death  was  sweeping  the  ranks.  Most  of 
theae  young  patriots,  had  recently  came  from  their 
peaceful  homes,  and  had  never  before  heard  the  spiteful 
whistle  of  a  hostile  bullet.  It  is  not  strange  that  a  panic 
should  have  ensued.  Under  these  circumstances,  it 
might  have  been  expected  in  the  best  drilled  army. 
Five  cannon  were  abandoned  in  the  disorderly  retreat. 
The  foe,  exultant  and  with  hideous  yells,  came  rushing 
on.  Colonel  Sigel  himself,  in  his  efforts  to  arrest  the 
rout,  narrowly  escaped  capture.  With  anguish,  he 
afterwards  summed  up,  that,  out  of  his  heroic  little 
band,  he  had  lost,  in  dead,  wounded  and  missing,  eight 
hundred  and  ninety-two.  Some  popular  complaints 
have  been  uttered  against  Colonel  Sigel,  for  not  having 
afterwards,  with  the  remnant  of  his  forces,  formed  a 
junction  with  General  Lyon.  But  this  was  not  possible. 
There  were  but  two  roads,  by  which  he  could  gain  ac 
cess  to  Lyon's  position,  at  the  other  end  of  the  valley. 
One  was  the  long  circuitous  route  of  twenty  miles,  by 
the  way  of  Springfield.  The  other,  was  the  valley  road, 
then  in  full  possession  of  the  exultant  rebel  army. 
There  was,  therefore,  nothing  for  Colonel  Sigel  to  do, 
but  to  withdraw  his  shattered  and  bleeding  ranks  as 
safely  as  possible,  from  the  field. 

General  Lyon,  meanwhile,  having  left  Springfield  at 
about  the  same  time,  with  Colonel  Sigel,  arrived  at  one 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  in  view  of  the  enemy's  camp- 
fires.  Here  his  column  lay,  on  its  arms,  till  daylight, 
whe-n  it  moved  forward.  The  enemy  had  pickets 
thrown  out  at  this  point,  and  their  surprise,  was  there 
fore,  less  complete  than  it  had  been  in  the  roar.  By 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  71 

the  time  Lyon  reached  the  northern  end  of  the  camp, 
he  found  the  enemy  prepared  to  receive  him.  He  suc 
ceeded,  however,  after  a  brief  struggle,  in  gaining  a 
commanding  eminence  at  the  north  of  the  valley,  in 
which  the  camp  was  situated.  Captain  Plummer,  with 
four  companies  of  infantry,  protected  his  left  flank. 
The  battle  was  now  commenced,  by  a  fire  of  shot  and 
shell  from  Captain  Totteu's  battery,  and  soon  became 
general.  In  vain  did  the  rebel  host  endeavor  to  drive 
Lyon  from  his  well  chosen  position. 

On  the  right,  on  the  left,  and  in  front,  they  assailed 
him,  in  charge  succeeding  charge,  but  in  vain.  His 
quick  eye  detected  every  movement,  and  successfully 
met  and  defeated  it.  The  overwhelming  number  of 
the  rebels,  enabled  them  to  replace,  after  each  repulse, 
their  defeated  forces  with  fresh  regiments,  while  Lyon's 
little  band  found  no  time  for  rest,  no  respite  from  the 
battle.  The  rebel  host,  surged  wave  after  wave  upon 
his  heroic  lines,  as  billows  of  the  sea  dash  upon  the 
coast.  And  as  the  rocks  upon  the  coast  beat  back  the 
flood,  so  did  these  heroic  soldiers  of,  freedom,  with 
courage  which  would  have  ennobled  veterans,  and  with 
patriotism  which  has  won  a  nation's  homage  and  love, 
hurl  back  the  tireless  surges  of  rebellion,  which  threat 
ened  to  engulf  them.  It  will  be  enough  for  any  of 
these  patriots  to  say.  "I  was  at  the  battle  of  Wilson's 
Creek,"  to  secure  the  warmest  grasp  of  every  patriot's 
hand. 

Wherever  the  missiles  of  death  flew  thickest,  and  the 
peril  of  the  battle  was  most  imminent,  there  was  Gen 
eral  Lyon  surely  to  be  found.  His  young  troops 
needed  this  encouragement  on  the  part  of  their  adored 
leader,  and  it  inspired  them  with  bravery,  which 
nothing  else  could  have  conferred.  His  horse  had  been 


72  FIFTY-NINTU    REGIMENT 

shot  under  him;  three  times  he  had  been  wounded,  and, 
though  faint  from  the  loss  of  blood,  he  refused  to  retire 
even  to  have  his  wounds  dressed;  in  vain  did  his  offi 
cers  beseech  him  to  avoid  so  much  exposure.  It  was 
one  of  those  eventful  hours,  which  Gen.  Lyon  fully  com 
prehended,  in  which  there  was  no  hope  but  in  despair. 
Again  and  again  had  the  enemy  been  repulsed,  only  to 
return  again  and  again  with  fresh  troops,  to  the  charge. 
Colonels  Mitchell,  Deitzler  and  Andrews,  were  all  se 
verely  wounded.  All  the  men  were  exhausted  with 
the  long  and  unintermitted  battle,  and  it  seemed  as 
though  one  puff'  of  war's  fierce  tempest  would  now 
sweep  away  the  thin  and  tremulous  line.  Just  then 
the  rebels  again  formed  in  a  fresh  and  solid  column  for 
the  charge.  With  firm  and  rapid  tread,  and  raising 
unearthly  yells,  they  swept  up  the  slope.  General  Lyon 
called  for  the  troops  standing  nearest  him  to  form  for 
an  opposing  charge.  Undaunted,  and  ready  for  the 
battle  as  ever,  they  inquired:  "Who  will  be  our 
leader?'*'  "Come  on,  brave  men,"  shouted  Gen.  Lyon, 
"  I  will  lead  you."  In  a  moment  be  was  at  their  head.  At 
the  next  moment  they  were  on  the  full  run  ;  at  the  next  a 
deadly  storm  of  bullets  swept  their  ranks,  staggering, 
but  not  checking  them  in  their  impetuous  advance ;  on, 
on  they  rushed  for  God  and  liberty,  and  in  another 
moment  the  foe  were  dispersed  like  dust  by  the  gale. 
The  victory  was  entire.  This  division  of  the  rebels 
could  rally  no  more.  The  army  was  saved;  but  Lyon 
was  dead!  Two  bullets  had  pierced  his  bosom.  As  he 
fell,  one  of  his  officers  sprang  to  his  side,  and  inquired 
anxiously:  "Are  you  hurt?''  "ISTot  much,"  was  his 
faint  reply.  They  were  his  last  words.  He  fell  asleep, 
to  wake  no  more.  0!  hateful  pro-slavery  rebellion! 
.Such  are  the  victims  immolated  upon  thy  polluted 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  73 

shrine.  Indignation  is  blended  with  the  tears  \ve  shed 
over  such  sacrifices,  which  we  have  been  compelled  to 
offer  to  the  demon  of  slavery.  A  nation  mourned  the 
loss  of  Lyon,  the  true  Christian  knight,  without  fear 
and  without  reproach.  His  remains  now  repose  in  the 
peaceful  graveyard  of  his  native  village. 

While  passing  this  battle  ground  the  soldiers  picked  up 
many  human  skulls  and  bones,  which  were  scatted  upon 
the  earth,  in  the  places,  perhaps,  where  the  soldiers  to 
whom  they  belonged  had  fallen. 

On  Friday  evening,  (the  16th,)  after  twenty-four 
hours'  retreat  from  Springfield,  the  rebel  army  was  en 
camped  on  Crane  Creek,  twenty-nine  miles  distant. 
The  Federal  army  was  five  miles  in  the  rear,  preparing 
to  make  an  early  start  in  pursuit  next  day.  Price  had 
placed  his  train  in  his  advance.  About  one  hundred 
wagons  contained  supplies,  which  were  brought  into 
Springfield  from  Forsyth  only  a  few  hours  before  the 
retreat  was  ordered.  He  will  have  some  advantage 
among  the  hills,  and  the  rebel  sympathizers  here  claim 
that  he  will  be  reinforced  by  twelve  or  fifteen  regiments 
from  Bentonville,  under  General  Van  Dorn.  On  Fri 
day  afternoon  four  officers  and  thirteen  privates  were 
captured  by  our  forces  and  sent  to  Springfield.  They 
were  captured  near  the  rebel  outposts  by  a  squad  of  the 
First  Missouri  Cavalry.  They  were  looking  up  mules, 
and  got  into  our  advance,  supposing  they  were  rebel 
pickets.  The  same  evening  Lieutenant  Bushnell  ad 
vanced  on  the  rebel  pickets  with  his  mountain  howitzer, 
and  threw  four  shells,  scattering. them  like  sheep. 

About  six  o'clock  the  army  halted  near  Dug  Springs, 
an.d  prepared  to  bivouac  for  the  night;  but,  before 
the  preparations  were  completed,  orders  came  to  push 
forward.  A  messenger  had  announced  that  our  cavalry 


74  FIFTY-NINTH   KEGIMENT 

was  close  upon  the  enemy,  and  desired  that  the  infantry 
be  sent  forward  in  support.  Hunger,,  fatigue,  and  all, 
were  forgotten.  Onward  was  the  word,  until  twelve 
o'clock  at  night.  The  division  of  General  Davis  was  in 
the  advance,  with  the  cavalry  of  Colonel  Ellis  and  Ma 
jor  McConnel.  The  enemy  had  halted  on  Crane  Creek, 
and,  had  not  the  night  been  so  terribly  dark,  it  is  more 
than  likely  General  Curtis  would  have  attacked  him 
immediately,  but  he  was  fearful  of  being  drawn  into  an 
ambuscade.  The  troops  lay  on  their  arms  awaiting  the 
break  of  day. 

At  an  early  hour  February  15th,  the  column  moved 
forward,  but  during  the  night  Price  had  again  fled, 
leaving  a  large  portion  of  his  camp  equipage,  and  a 
number  of  wagons.  During  that  day  the  chase  was 
very  exciting,  there  being  constant  skirmishing  between 
our  advance  and  his  rear  guard.  The  road  was  strewn 
with  broken  wagons,  dead  and  dying  mules  and  horses, 
and  every  conceivable  kind  of  goods.  At  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  the  booming  of  cannon  notified  us 
that  Price  had  made  a  stand.  The  Dubuque  battery 
was  pushed  forward,  and  for  an  hour  we  had  a  fine  ar 
tillery  fight.  By  the  time  our  infantry  got  up  the 
enemy  had  precipitately  fled.  On  the  16th  instant  we 
pushed  on,  finding  many  evidences  of  the  hasty  flight 
in  that  day's  march.  During  the  afternoon  our  cavalry 
again  overtook  the  rebels  at  Cross  Timbers,  and  here 
was  made  a  gallant  charge  by  Colonel  Harry  Pease  and 
forty  men.  Coming  on  the  enemy's  picket,  they  drove 
it  in,  dashing  at  once  in  the  very  midst  of  his  camp. 
One  of  our  men,  a  lieutenant  of  cavalry,  was  wounded, 
and  five  or  six  horses  killed.  The  enemy's  loss  was 
much  greater.  The  charge  was  really  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  things  that  occurred  on  the  route.  On  the  17th 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  75 

instant  we  had  several  skirmishes,  and  at  last  discovered 
the  enemy  in  position  on  the  south  side  of  Sugar  Creek. 
Taking  it  altogether  the  flight  of  Price,  and  our  pur 
suit,  will  form  one  of  the  most  interesting  passages  in 
the  history  of  the  war. 

The  valley  through  which  Sugar  Creek  pursues  its 
meandering  course  is  nearly  half  a  mile  in  width  at 
Trott's  Store.  From  the  brows  of  the  opposite  ridges 
the  distance  is  somewhat  more,  as  the  road  winds. 
Skirmishing  between  the  pickets  of  the  two  armies  oc 
curred  during  the  morning,  when  Price  moved  out  of 
sight  beyond  the  brow  of  the  south-western  hills.  His 
army,  as  was  since  ascertained,  then  formed  in  two 
lines  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  and  two  Louisiana  regi 
ments,  under  command  of  Colonel  Louis  Herbert,  which 
had  arrived  from  Cross  Hollows  to  reinforce  Price, 
marched  with  their  batteries,  determined  to  give  us  a 
warm  reception.  Two  of  the  enemy's  cannon  were 
planted  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  overlooking  Sugar 
Creek,  and  their  pieces  were  also  ranged  along  the 
road,  about  two  hundred  yards  apart,  for  half  a  mile  or 
more.  These  pieces  had  prolongs  attached,  indicating 
that  a  running  fight  was  intended  in  case  of  pursuit. 
In  the  meantime  our  cavalry  formed  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  valley,  and  marched  across  the  creek  to  a 
point  near  Trott's  Store,  and  halted.  The  enemy  then 
opened  fire  from  their  batteries.  One  shot  fell  short, 
and  a  shell  exploded  over  the  heads  of  our  men  sta 
tioned  on  the  opposite  hill,  doing  no  damage.  Captain 
Hardin,  of  the  Ninth  Iowa  Battery,  answered  the 
enemy's  fire  from  the  opposite  bluff,  throwing  three 
shells  from  a  howitzer  with  such  good  effect  that  the 
enemy  were  forced  to  fall  back  with  their  battery. 
General  Curtis  then  ordered  the  cavalry  to  move  up 


76  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

the  hill  and  charge  on  the  retreating  foe.  The  order 
was  gallantly  obeyed  by  Colonel  Ellis,  in  command  of 
the  First  Missouri  Cavalry,  followed  by  Major  Wright, 
leading  his  battalion,  and  Major  McConnell,  with  the 
Third  Battalion  of  the  Third  Illinois  Cavalry.  The 
whole  force  of  our  cavalry  making  the  attack  numbered 
eome  eight  hundred.  Gaining  the  brow  of  the  hill,  it 
was  ascertained  that  they  had  fallen  back  over  a  mile 
to  an  open  field,  where  their  battery  was  again  stationed, 
and  the  enemy  in  force,  formed  in  line.  Our  cavalry,  re 
gardless  of  danger,  plunged  forward  to  the  charge  on  the 
enemy's  position,  mostly  screened  by  the  intervening 
woods.  Nothing  could  have  withstood  the  impetuosity 
of  such  a  charge,  had  not  our  advance,  led  by  Colonel 
Ellis,  when  debouching  from  the  woods  into  the  open 
field,  been  met  by  a  murderous  fire  poured  in  upon 
their  ranks  from  behind  the  trees.  Our  loss  was  seven 
in  killed  and  wounded  at  this  point.  Inevitable  de 
struction,  without  a  chance  to  resist  so  galling  a  fire, 
caused  our  brave  men  to  recoil,  when  Colonel  Ellis, 
with  great  coolness  and  presence  of  mind,  ordered  his 
men  to  right  and  left  and  scour  the  woods.  The  order 
was  obeyed  with  telling  effect  on  the  enemy,  many  of 
whom  were  cut  down  behind  their  places  of  conceal 
ment,  and  the  rest  fled.  Meantime  Major  McConnell, 
with  his  battalion,  left  the  road,  and,  deploying  to  the 
left,  advanced  on  the  enemy's  line,  while  Majors  Wright 
and  Boliver  performed  the  same  maneuver  on  the 
right. 

Two  regiments  of  infantry  arrived  to  support  the 
cavalry,  and  formed  in  line.  Colonel  Phelps'  regiment 
deployed  on  the  left  of  the  road,  and  Lieutenant-Col 
onel  Herron,  with  the  Ninth  Iowa,  deployed  on  the 
right.  Captain  Hayden,  of  the  Dubuque  battery, 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  77 

answered  the  enemy's  batteries,  which  had  opened  upon 
our  advancing  columns,  with  a  brisk  fire.  The  cannon 
ading  was  kept  up  for  a  few  minutes,  when  the  enemy 
precipitately  fled,  taking  away  most  of  his  killed. 
Other  regiments  were  coming  into  the  field  to  take  part 
in  the  ball.  Among  the  latter  was  the  Fourth  Iowa. 
The  men,  anxious  for  the  fray,  had  palled  off  their  coats 
and  threw  them  aside. 

There  is  little  doubt  that  if  the  rebels  had  been  fol 
lowed  up  closely  the  route  would  have  been  complete, 
and  no  time  would  have  been  given  them  to  burn  their 
barracks  at  Cross  Hollows. 

The  Colonel  Herbert  who  commanded  the  rebel 
brigade  was  the  gentleman  of  California  notoriety,  who 
slew  the  waiter  at  "Willard's  Hotel,  a  few  years  since. 
The  other  Confederate  Colonels  under  him  in  the  fight 
were  McRae  and  McNair. 

Among  the  badly  wounded  is  J.  A.  Edwards,  of  Co. 
H,  Eighth  Indiana.  He  belonged  to  the  infantry,  but, 
getting  possession  of  a  horse,  was  the  foremost  in  the 
fight,  running  the  gauntlet  of  the  leaden  hail,  which 
poured  in  upon  him  from  the  timber,  without  quailing. 
He  got  ahead  of  the  cavalry,  and  was  cut  off  by  the 
enemy. 

The  Hospital  Steward  of  the  Third  Illinois  cavalry 
(Baker)  had  his  horse  shot  down.  He  fell  with  the 
horse,  dismounted,  and  leaped  upon  another  horse  in 
the  melee,  and  rushed  forward  on  the  enemy  with  re 
newed  vigor.  Like  Edwards,  he  had  no  business  in  the 
fight,  but  nothing  could  keep  him  from  pushing  to  the 
front  and  have  a  "hand"  in. 

A  man  belonging  to  the  Dubuque  battery  had  his 
horse's  head  taken  off  by  a  cannon  ball.  He  was  lean- 


78  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

ing  forward  at  the  moment,  and  the  ball  passed  just 
above  him,  doing  no  injury. 

The  inhabitants  along  this  route,  from  Cassville  to 
this  point,  were  told  by  Price's  army  that  the  Northern 
troops  were  marching  down,  and  were  burning  all  the 
houses,  ravishing  the  women,  and  killing  the  children. 
These  ignorant  people,  it  seems,  believed  the  silly  tale, 
and  the  result  is  that  a  general  stampede  took  place. 
Men  procured  teams,  gathered  up  what  little  val 
uables  could  be  carried  along,  and,  taking  their  families 
aboard,  deserted  their  homes.  Only  three  men  were 
found  in  Cassville  when  our  army  arrived. 

At  Keetsville  nearly  all  the  inhabitants  fled.  From 
that  point-  to  Cross  Hollows  about  two-thirds  of  the 
inhabitants  on  the  road  have  deserted  their  dwellings. 
In  several  houses  the  tables  were  spread  for  breakfast, 
and  in  the  hurry  of  flight  were  thus  left.  The  wash- 
tub  was  seen  filled  with  water  on  the  back  of  the  chair, 
indicating  that  the  hegira  occurred,  as  it  actually  did, 
on  "wash-day."  The  doors  were  ajar,  the  clock  on  the 
mantelpiece  had  ceased  ticking,  feather  beds  were  piled 
in  the  center  of  the  floor,  all  sorts  of  furniture  were 
scattered  about,  and  not  a  sound  was  heard  but  the 
mewing  of  a  cat.  An  air  of  lonesome,  heart-sick  deso 
lation  prevailed.  One  large  dwelling  was  recently 
burned  down,  and  the  ruins  were  still  smoking. 
Surely  the  leaders  in  this  cursed  civil  war  will  have 
much  to  answer  for. 

Although  strict  orders  forbid  our  boys  from  disturb 
ing  any  private  property,  they,  nevertheless,  helped 
themselves  to  such  things  as  they  fancied.  Clothing, 
quilts,  dishes,  cooking  utensils,  hams,  lard,  molasses, 
vinegar,  meal,  beans,  and  whatever  else  their  hands  in 
clined  toward,  was  appropriated. 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  79 

Rations  at  this  time  were  very  small,  owing  to  hav 
ing  outmarched  the  provision  train,  and  the  boys  were 
very  glad  to  have  such  opportunities  of  filling  up. 
Coffee  had  been  played  out  several  days  before,  and 
many  had  been  restricted  to  hominy  and  parched  corn. 
But  now  the  fleeing  rebels  had  left  enough  to  more 
than  satisfy  their  hunger,  and  they  were  not  disposed 
to  treat  their  liberality  with  contempt.  ,  Some  Indiana 
troops  threatened  mutiny,  on  the  16th,  in  consequence 
of  not  having  their  proper  provisions.  They  positively 
refused  to  march  any  farther  until  they  were  supplied 
with  rations.  Appropriations  supplied  them. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


After  laying  in  camp  two  days  on  Sugar  Creek,  rest 
ing  from  the  wearisome  march  it  had  undergone  since 
leaving  Springfield,  the  regiment  again  moved  out  in 
the  pursuit.  After  making  somewhat  of  a  circuitous 
rout  by  Osage  Springs,  it  arrived  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Cross  Hollows,  and  went  into  camp,  on  the  22d  day 
of  February — lacking  three  days  of  being  one  month 
since  leaving  Syracuse,  Mo.  During  that  time  it  had 
marched  over  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles. 

Cross  Hollows,  from  which  Price's  army  has  just  dis 
appeared  beyond  pursuit,  is  on  the  Fayetteville  road, 
eighteen  miles  from  that  place,  and  sixteen  miles  from 
the  Arkansas  line,  in  Benton  county.  The  road  passes 
due  south  at  this  point,  along  the  bed  of  a  deep  valley 
with  precipitous  sides,  covered  with  brush,  and  the 
eminences  covered  with  forests  of  black-jacks  and 
swamp-oaks.  Two  other  ravines  cut  across  this  valley 
at  right  angels,  the  other  obliquely  in  a  south-east  and 
north-west  direction.  The  junction  of  these  ravines 
is  called  "Cross  Hollows."  A  cantonment  of  three 
thousand  Arkansas  infantry  has  been  located  here  dur 
ing  the  winter.  An  excellent  spring  gushes  forth  under 
one  of  the  banks,  giving  origin  to  a  creek.  It  was 
thought  that  the  six  bold  promontories,  which  send 
their  salient  points  into  the  valley,  would  constitute 
natural  ramparts  for  placing  cannon  to  enfilade  the 

(80) 


LIEUT.  C.C.DOOLITTLE 


LIEUT.JOHN  KELLY 


LIEUT.ANDERSON.  LI  EUT.  MOSSM  AN 


LIEUT.R.D.  IRVINE. 


LIEUT.  SANDERSON 


SERGT.T.J.MEUV.N.  SERGT.  CH?  SM  ITH. 


FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.         81 

gorges  and  render  the  place  impregnable,  but  it  seems 
that  the  gorges  were  untenable  in  the  face  of  the  ardent 
troops  of  General  Curtis.  This  is  the  last  place  at 
which  it  has  been  said  by  rebel  sympathisers,  that  Price 
was  going  to  give  the  Federal  army  battle.  It  is  now 
said  that  he  has  fled  to  the  mountains  of  Indian  Terri 
tory,  where  it  would  be  useless  to  undertake  a  pursuit. 

Ben  McCulloch  arrived  from  Fort  Smith  the  day  be 
fore  the  fight  at  Sugar  Creek,  but  did  not  participate 
in  any  part  of  the  action,  except  the  retreat.  He  in 
sisted  on  making  a  stand  at  Cross  Hollows,  but  Price 
objected.  His  hafeit  of  running  has  become  a  second 
nature  to  him.  The  stampede  of  the  deluded  people 
was  exceeded  only  by  the  hurry  of  the  rebel  army  to 
get  away. 

Camp  Benjamin,  located  in  a  beautiful  place,  three 
miles  west  of  Cross  Hollows,  in  the  principal  valley, 
had  one  hundred  and  eight  commodious  huts  erected, 
-with  chimneys  in  the  center.  The  rebels  burned  all  but 
five,  and  in  the  hurry  of  their  flight,  left  thirty  game 
cocks;  some  of  these  brandished  silver  spurs.  Their 
best  fighting  material  was  thus  evidently  left  behind. 
A  book  containing  the  general  orders,  and  a  quantity 
of  brass  knuckles  were  also  left  behind  by  the  chivalry. 
It  is  a  wonder  to  our  troops  why  the  two  grist  mills  at 
this  point  were  not  fired. 

As  soon  as  the  Federal  army  went  into  camp,  many 
refugees  returned  to  our  lines,  among  whom  were  two 
intelligent  women  from  their  homes  south  of  Fayette- 
ville.  They  represented  that  their  husbands  were  Union 
men,  who  fled  to  avoid  being  pressed  into  the  rebel  ser 
vice.  A  threat  was  made  that  the  wives  of  such  who 
favored  the  Union  cause  would  be  hung,  and  many  of 
these  poor  women  were  trying  to  make  their  way  into 
(6) 


82  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

the  Federal  lines  to  escape  this  threatened  doom.  The 
day  before  these  women  left  home,  there  were  two 
Union  men  hung  at  Ilewit's  Mills.  These  women  were 
piloted  through  to  our  lines  by  an  intelligent  contra 
band — the  trusty  slave  of  their  father.  This  negro 
says  that  the  retreat  of  Price  was  preceded  by  dis 
patches  sent  ahead,  calling  every  citizen  to  arms.  A 
perfect  reign  of  terror  prevails;  committees  were  ap 
pointed  to  hang  every  man  refusing  to  join  the  rebel 
army.  People  were  removing  their  provisions  to  the 
woods  and  burying  them,  and  fleeing  in  large  numbers 
to  the  mountains.  By  a  recent, act,  no  negro  must  be 
found  beyond  his  master's  premises,  under  pain  of  thir 
ty-nine  lashes,  administered  on  the  bare  back.  A  few 
weeks  since,  five  negroes  caught  fishing  together  in  a 
stream,  twelve  miles  from  Fayetteville,  were  hung,  and 
their  bird-pecked  carcass  can  be  seen  swinging  in  the 
air  to  this  day,  as  a  warning  to  others.  The  negros  are 
told  that  the  Northern  Abolitionists  are  trying  to  get 
them  in  their  power  for  the  purpose  of  transporting 
them  to  Cuba.  This  negro  says  that  the  war  has  made 
the  Southern  men  "mighty  temperate;"  none  but  the 
vilest  corn  whisky  can  be  procured.  The  "quality" 
are  suffering  headaches  from  being  deprived  of  their 
accustomed  beverage,  coffee.  Sassafras  tea,  used  as  a 
substitute,  sweetened  with  sorghum,  was  not  generally 
relished.  Coffee  in  Fayetteville  held  at  sixty  cents  a 
pound,  and  none  could  be  had  even  at  that  price.  Sheet 
ing  and  shirting  was  worth  one  dollar  a  yard.  The  ne 
gro  made  a  statement  to  General  Curtis,  and  gave  the  lat 
ter  a  plan  showing  the  roads  through  the  Boston  Moun 
tains.  Full  confidence  is  placed  in  his  statement.  The 
two  women  and  negro  were  sent  forward  to  Springfield. 
On  the  evening  of  the  24th,  the  head  of  a  train  on 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  83 

the  way,  five  miles  this  side  of  Keitsville,  and  four 
wagons  belonging  to  a  Sutler  of  the  Twenty-Second 
Indiana,  were  burned.  The « balance  of  the  train,  con 
taining  five  days  provisions,  was  several  miles  behind, 
and  returned  to  Cassville.  On  the  same  evening,  Cap 
tain  Montgomery's  command,  of  Wright's  battalion, 
stationed  at  Keitsville,  was  attacked  by  eight  hundred 
and  fifty  Texan  Rangers,  under  Colonel  Young.  Mont 
gomery  and  his  men  escaped  to  Cassville,  with  the  loss 
of  two  killed,  one  wounded  and  one  taken  prisoner. 
Seventy-five  horses  were  left  in  possession  of  the  rebels. 
The  enemy,  it  appears,  came  on  our  pickets  in  the 
dark.  In  reply  to  "who  comes  there?"  the  answer 
was,  "a  friend."  The  rebels  then  rushed  forward,  the 
pickets  fired,  but  were  overpowered.  The  enemy  rushed 
into  Keitsville  and  fired  upon  the  house  occupied  by  the 
cavalry.  Captain  Montgomery  did  not  order  a  fire  in 
the  darkness  and  confusion,  as  his  men  and  the  enemy 
became  undistinguishable.  The  rebels  had  two  killed 
and  one  wounded.  They  said  they  were  Texan  Ran 
gers,  encamped  on  Sugar  Creek,  and  had  burned  one 
of  our  trains  and  intended  to  destroy  another. 

On  the  21st,  one  of  the  First  Missouri  Cavalry  ven 
tured  into  Bentonville,  the  county  seat  of  Benton  county, 
five  miles  from  Cross  Hollows,  alone;  got  into  diffi 
culty  with  some  citizens,  and  was  literally  stoned  to 
death.  The  next  day,  the  company  to  which  he  be 
longed  retaliated  by  burning  several  houses  and  razing 
the  town  generally. 

"While  laying  here,  the  news  came  to  camp,  that  the 
Ninth  Regiment  of  Missouri  Volunteers  was  no  longer 
a  Missouri  regiment,  but  was  now  numbered  among  the 
honored  regiments  of  its  own  State,  and  was  hereafter 
to  be  known  as  the  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois  Regiment.  The 


84          FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS, 

news  was  received  with  acclamations  of  hearty  satisfac 
tion.  Colonel  Julius  White,  who  now  commanded  the 
brigade,  read  the  dispatch- announcing  the  fact,  and  the 
Major  of  the  regiment,  P.  Sidney  Post,  made  some  few, 
well  chosen  and  congratulatory  remarks,  which  were 
received  with  three  hearty  cheers.  Three  cheers  for 
Colonel  White ;  three  for  Colonel  C.  H.  Frederick,  and 
three  times  three  for  the  State  of  Illinois. 

While  at  the  Lamoine,  some  time  in  January,  Captain 
S.  W.  Kelly,  Captain  Winters  and  Captain  Elliott  got 
up  a  petition  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  have  the  reg 
iment  transferred  from  the  Missouri  to  the  Illinois  ser 
vice.  Nine-tenths  of  the  men  in  the  regiment  were 
from  that  State,  and  the  feeling  was  almost  universal 
in  favor  of  the  transfer.  In  order  to  add  weight  and 
influence  to  the  petition,  they  procured  the  signatures 
of  General  Palmer  and  Colonel  White,  now  command 
ing  brigade,  and,  with  one  exception,  all  the  line  offi 
cers  of  the  regiment.  Colonel  Frederick  being  a  citi 
zen  of  Missouri,  and  having  used  great  exertions  and 
made  much  personal  sacrifice  to  recruit  and  organize 
the  regiment  for  his  own  State,  did  not  feel  inclined  to 
encourage  the  petition.  Yet  he  most  generously  with 
held  any  effort  to  prevent  its  free  circulation  and  pas 
sage  to  the  Secretary  of  War;  and  after  the  transfer, 
he  withheld  not  his  kindly  feeling  towards  the  regi 
ment,  nor  spared  any  labor  to  promote  its  efficiency  or 
welfare.  Through  the  personal  influence  of  General 
Palmer,  the  Adjutant  Gerferal  of  Illinois,  and  Governor 
Yates  became  interested  in  the  matter,  and  through 
their  exertions  the  petition  was  acted  upon. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


On  the  24th,  the  regiment  moved  to  a  more  pleasant 
situation,  and  anticipated  going  into  regular  camp  for 
some  time,  as  it  was  rumored  that  the  campaign 
was  now  fully  lengthened  out,  and  that  the  tents  and 
extra  baggage  that  had  been  left  at  Lebanon  was  com 
ing  up.  The  army  also  needed  rest.  The  grounds  were 
accordingly  measured  off  in  military  style,  and  tents 
pitched  in  systematic  order.  The  weather  is  delight 
ful,  and  if  the  men  had  plenty  of  rations,  they  would 
enjoy  it  hugely;  but  hunger  is  annoying.  There  was  a 
scarcity  of  provisions,  and  for  several  days  coffee  had 
disappeared  from  camp.  It  was  two  hundred  miles  to 
our  base  of  supplies,  and  mule  teams  are  proverbially 
slow,  especially  in  muddy  roads  and  with  lazy  drivers. 
The  country  is  scouted  over  by  the  boys,  but  they  find 
little  to  compensate  them  for  their  trouble.  The  citi 
zens  have  nothing  left  for  themselves. 

Colonel  Kelton  was  recalled  to  St.  Louis,  soon  after 
returning  from  Springfield,  in  the  /all,  and  placed  on 
the  staff  of  General  Halleck.  Major  McGibbon  had 
also  returned  to  St.  Louis,  and  in  consequence,  thek 
positions  were  vacant  in  the  regiment.  Camp  Halleck, 
where  the  regiment  now  lay,  was  the  first  since  leaving 
the  Lamoine,  that  afforded  any  leisure  for  consultations 
as  to  who  should  fill  these  important  positions.  The 
result  of  -several  night  meetings  of  the  officers  of  the 

(85) 


86  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

regiment,  was  the  election  of  P.  Sidney  Post  to  the 
position  of  Colonel,  and  Captain  J.  C.  Winters  to  that 
of  Major. 

P.  Sidney  Post  left  a  promising  law  practice  in  Gales- 
burg,  111.,  and  came  to  St.  Louis  with  Captain  Clayton 
Hale's  company,  (company  A,)  and  at  the  organization 
of  the  regiment  received  the  appointment  of  Adjutant. 
This  position  he  had  tilled  with  entire  satisfaction  to 
the  regiment  and  credit  to  himself.  And  from  this  po 
sition  had,  deservedly,  been  promoted  to  the  position 
of  Major,  and  from  Major  now  to  the  Colonelcy. 

Lieut.  Colonel  C.  II.  Frederick  had  commanded  the 
regiment  ever  since  leaving  Boonville,  to  the  entire  sat 
isfaction  of  the  men  in  the  ranks;  but  being  a  strict 
disciplinarian,  both  as  regarded  men  and  officers,  he 
had  procured  the  ill  will  of  some  of  the  latter,  and 
hence  the  election  of  the  regimental  Major  to  the  posi 
tion  which  rightfully  belonged  to  him.  Such  injustice 
frequently  occurs  in  the  army. 

Captain  J.  C.  Winters  commanded  a  company,  (G,) 
which  he  had  recruited  near  White  Hall,  III,  and  was 
richly  deserving  the  position  of  Major.  He  had  served 
in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was  one  of  the  first  military 
men  in  the  regiment. 

The  regiment  now  lay  basking  in  the  sun  shine  for 
several  days.  Their  time  was  spent  in  discussing  ru 
mors  concerning  the  enemy,  and  in  taking  a  retrospect 
of  their  previous  hardships  and  long  marches. 

The  rumors  to  be  discussed  were  that  Price  was  now 
at  Boston  Mountains  filling  up  and  preparing  his  army 
for  a  return  to  give  us  battle,  and  drive  the  invaders 
from  Arkansas  and  Missouri.  The  retrospect  included 
the  time  spent  in  marches  since  leaving  St.  Louis  up 
to  the  present  at  Camp  Halleck. 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  87 

It  was  now  only  five  months  since  leaving  the  arsenal 
at  St.  Louis,  and  the  regiment  had  marched  over  seven 
hundred  miles.  Camp  Halleck  is  six  miles  south  of 
Bentonville,  the  county  town  of  Benton  county.  Ben- 
ton  county  is  the  north-west  county  of  Arkansas.  To 
get  here,  the  regiment  left  Boonville,  Mo.,  and  marched 
to  Syracuse;  from  thence  to  Otterville;  thence  to  Se- 
dalia,  Warsaw,  Bolivar,  and  Springfield.  Then  from 
Springfield  through  Warsaw  back  to  Syracuse.  Then 
from  Syracuse  to  Sedalia  and  hack  to  Otterville.  From 
Otterville  to  Typton,  thence  by  Lynn  Creek  Perry 
across  the  Osage  to  Lebanon  and  on  to  Springfield. 
From  Springfield  through  Cassville,  Keitsville  and  Ben 
tonville  to  Camp  Halleck,  Arkansas. 

Another  matter  of  discussion  is,  "where  to,' next?" 
This  is  not  known,  but  one  thing  is  known,  and  that  is, 
that  a  march  of  two  or  three  hundred  miles  is  before 
us.  We  are  two  hundred  miles  west  of  Cairo,  three 
hundred  or  more  from  St.  Louis,  and  these  are  the  two 
points  nearest  home.  If  we  go  on  south,  it  is  eighty 
miles  to  the  nearest  steam  boat  landing,  on  the  Arkan 
sas  River,  and  there  is  no  probability  of  our  riding  on 
a  steam  boat,  so  that  to  do  the  very  best  we  can,  we 
have  two  hundred  miles  to  march. 

And  still  another  topic  of  conversation,  is  the  proba 
bilities  of  a  speedy  termination  of  the  war.  Those  who 
have  been  home  on  furloughs,  and  are  now  returning, 
bring  reports  that  the  people  at  home  and  around  St. 
Louis,  are  firmly  in  the  belief  that  peace  will  soon  be 
proclaimed.  The  soldier's  heart  expands  with  joy  at 
these  glad  tidings.  If  all  the  armies  of  the  Union  have 
been  as  successful  as  this,  the  joy  and  hope  is  not  delu 
sive.  May  the  hope  of  a  speedy  termination  of  the 


88  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

war  be  not  as  delusive  as  the  anticipation  that  the  Fif 
ty-Ninth  would  have  a  long  rest  in  Camp  Ilalleck. 

On  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  March,  General  Davis' 
division  broke  up  camp  ne-ar  Osage  Springs,  and  fell 
back  about  ten  miles,  to  a  stronger  position  on  Sugar 
Creek.  The  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois  Regiment  going  into 
camp  on  the  summit  of  one  of  the  small  mountains  of 
this  region.  This  is  not  really  a  mountainous  country, 
yet  the  hills  are  so  gigantic  that  mountain  would  not  be 
an  improper  appellation.  The  hill  on  which  the  Fifty- 
Ninth  is  encamped  is  three  hundred  feet  above  the  bed 
of  Sugar  Creek,  in  the  valley  below,  and  seems  to  be 
composed  of  millions  of  little  rocks  thrown  together 
in  one  huge  pile.  Its  surface  is  literally  nothing  else 
but  fractional  pieces  of  stone — and  these  the  soldier 
must  have  for  his  bed.  Yet  he  sleeps  soundly. 

The  second  day  of  March  came  in  cold,  and  during 
the  day  some  snow  fell,  as  did  also  on  the  3d  and  4th. 
This  made  it  very  disagreeable  in  camp.  Short  rations, 
thin  clothing,  and  some  with  bare  feet,  caused  a  good 
deal  of  suffering  and  no  little  discontent  among  the 
troops. 

An  incident,  new  and  intensely  interesting,  occurred 
to  the  Fifty-Ninth  on  the  afternoon  of  the  5th  of 
March.  Sometime  in  January,  a  slight  difficulty  had 

occurred  between  Captain and  one  of  his  men, 

in  relation  to  who  should  furnish  the  Captain's  fire  with 
wood.  The  Captain  was  inclined  to  have  his  fire  sup 
plied  with  wood  at  the  expense  of  the  dignity  of  this 
young  private,  and  the  young  man  was  determined  he 
should  not,  and  hence  came  the  charge  of  " disobe 
dience  of  orders."  Before,  however,  the  thing  was  en 
tirely  settled  some  further  difficulties  occurred,  and  the 
young  man  was  threatened  with  corporeal  punishment; 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  89 

this  he  resisted  with  his  knife,  cutting  the  clothes  of 
the  Lieutenant  of  the  company,  and  threatening  to  take 
his  life.  This  added  to  the  previous  charge,  one  of  still 
greater  gravity.  The  young  man  was  court-martialed, 
and  sentenced  to  have  his  head  shaved,  his  uniform 
taken  from  him,  and  to  be  drummed  out  of  the  service. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  5th,  this  farce  was  played 
off,  to  the  delight  of  some,  and  the  disgust  of  many. 
The  whole  division  was  called  out  and  formed  in  two 
lines  across  an  open  field  in  the  valley,  to  witness  the 
great  show.  At  an  appointed  time,  the  young  man 
made  his  appearance  at  one  end  of  the  amphitheater, 
with  shaved  head,  uncovered,  accompanied  by  two 
guards  with  fixed  bayonets,  and  a  fife  and  drum  follow 
ing  in  his  rear.  To  the  tune  of  the  rogues  march,  he 
was  thus  paraded  from  one  end  of  the  line  to  the  other, 
and  back  to  the  place  of  beginning.  The  farce  was 
now  over,  and  the  young  man  supposed  to  be  forever 
ruined.  But  not  so.  It  only  made  him  a  hero  and 
martyr  in  the  eyes  of  the  soldiers.  Their  sympathies 
were  all  excited  in  his  favor.  They  saw  in  the  act 
nothing  but  tyranny,  on  the  part  of  the  officers  who 
pronounced  the  sentence,  and  folly  in  its  execution. 

On  returning  to  camp,  a  subscription  was  raised  in 
his  behalf,  and  quite  a  sum  was  donated  to  defray  his 
expenses  to  parts  unknown.  He  went  to  Cassville,  and 
immediately  enlisted  in  the  Montgomery  Guards,  and 
about  the  time  his  hair  had  grown  to  a  respectable 
length,  he  married  one  of  the  fairest  maidens  of  the 
country. 

Rumors  now  began  to  thicken,  that  the  enemy  was 
really  returning  upon  us.  And  in  fact  they  were,  for 
on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  they  made  an  attack  upon 


90         FIFTY-NINTH   BEGIMENT  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

General  Sigel,  at  Bentonville,  and  drove  him  to  the 
main  lines  at  Sugar  Creek. 

General  Curtis,  in  anticipation  of  an  attack,  had 
erected  some  fortifications  in  and  around  the  main 
crossing  of  Sugar  Creek — which  he  prided  himself 
very  much  with,  but  which,  in  fact,  were  small  affairs. 
After  General  Sigel  had  safely  placed  his  command  in 
position,  he  reported  to  General  Curtis  in  person.  The 
General  received  him  at  the  door,  and  before  asking 
him  in,  inquired  his  opinion  in  regard  to  the  fortifi 
cations  he  had  erected.  General  Sigel  merely  glanced 
his  eyes  over  the  works,  and  without  any  remarks,  in 
quired  if  General  Curtis  had  anything  to  eat  at  his 
quarters,  as  he  was  almost  starved  to  death,  and  alight 
ing  from  his  horse,  walked  into  the  tent  without  a  word 
of  the  fortifications.  He  seemed  to  think  that  his 
supper  was  of  more  importance  than  General  Curtis' 
fortifications. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


The  morning  of  the  7th  of  March  broke  clear  and 
pleasant  over  the  hills  and  valley  of  Sugar  Creek  and 
Cross  Timbers.  The  soldiers  were  everywhere,  early 
on  the  alert,  and  camp  presented  a  good  deal  the  appear 
ance  of  a  bee-hive  on  a  sunny  morning.  Better  spirits 
than  had  been  for  several  days  seemed  to  prevail  among 
the  boys,  and  all  was  cheerful.  There  seemed  to  be  no 
thought  that  before  another  morning  should  break  on 
Cross  Timbers,  many  who  now  felt  so  buoyant  and  full 
of  hope  would  be  numbered  among  the  "  brave  boys 
slain."  Little  did  they  realize  that  this  bright  morning 
was  the  harbinger  of  such  a  bloody  sun-set  as  closed 
this  day,  over  the  battle-ground  of  Pea  Ridge. 

About  seven  o'clock  orders  were  received  at  regimen 
tal  head-quarters  to  strike  tents  immediately,  and  move 
out  toward  the  right.  The  right,  or,  rather,  rear  of  the 
army,  lay  at  this  time  across  the  road  leading  to  Cass- 
ville.  The  regiment,  as  soon  as  the  tents  and  camp 
equipage  could  be  loaded  in  the  wagons,  Amoved  in  a 
circuitous  route,  through  the  brush,  until  it  struck  the 
Cassville  road,  one  mile  north  of  Sugar  Creek.  Here  it 
filed  to  the  right,  and  halted,  about  fifty  yards  east  of 
the  road,  apparently  to  wait  further  orders.  It  seemed 
as  though  the  plan  of  the  battle  was  yet  undecided. 
An  hour  elapsed  while  in  this  position,  and  then  the 
order  came  to  "  fall  in."  The  regiment  now  retraced  its 

(91) 


92  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

steps  to  the  road,  and  again  stacked  arms.  In  a  short 
time  thereafter,  several  horsemen  were  seen  coming 
down  the  road  from  the  right,  at  break-neck  speed. 
Some  had  lost  their  hats,  some  their  coats,  some  their 
guns,  and  nearly  all  of  them  had  lost  their  wits.  "The 
rebels — the  rebels  are  coming  in  the  rear!"  was  their 
war  cry,  as  they  charged  along  the  road  toward  some 
place  of  safety.  They  received,  and  deserved,  the  jeers 
of  the  soldiers,  as  they  passed. 

The  rebels  had  made  a  slight  attack  on  the  rear  as  a 
feint,  and  these  cowardly  cavalry  had  fled  to  save  their 
paltry  carcasses  from  the  rebel  balls.  Shame  on  such 
dastards ! 

It  was  now  eleven  o'clock,  and  the  enemy  was  attack 
ing  our  left  wing  in  earnest.  Davis'  division  now 
moved  forward  on  the  double-quick,  through  Lectown, 
and  half  a  mile  beyond,  where  it  formed  in  line  as 
rapidly  and  judiciously  as  the  brushy  condition  of  the 
position  would  admit.  On  the  road  leading  west  from 
Leetown,  and  three-quarters  of  a  mile  distant,  is  an  open 
field  of,  perhaps,  twenty  acres,  with  a  cross  fence 
through  its  center,  and  skirted  with  densely  thick  un 
derbrush  all  around  it.  On  the  east  side  of  this  field 
the  Fifty-ISTiiith  and  Thirty-Seventh  Illinois  were  placed 
in  line.  When  first  gaining  this  position,  no  enemy 
were  in  sight,  but  very  soon  a  column  of  men  were  seen 
filing  through  the  timber,  to  the  left  of  the  field,  and 
coming  into  line  in  our  front.  At  first  it  was  supposed 
to  be  a  column  of  our  own  men,  as  the  thickness  of  the 
underbrush  prevented  from  distinguishing  the  motly 
uniforms  of  the  rebels  from  our  own.  The  mistake 
was  soon  discovered  by  some  of  the  men,  but  the  order 
to  fire  was  withheld  from  our  boys  until  a  volley  from 
the  rebel  column  was  poured  into  them.  Then  the  fact 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  93 

that  it  was  the  enemy  became  too  evident,  and  the  fire 
was  returned  with  double  interest.  The  firing  now 
became  incessant.  Volley  after  volley,  in  quick  succes 
sion,  was  sent  by  our  brave  boy&  into  the  falling  ranks 
of  the  enemy.  For  a  long  time  it  seemed  as  though  no 
impression  was  being  made  upon  the  column  of  the 
enemy,  although  those  who  were  not  engaged  could  see 
men  falling  from  their  ranks  by  scores.  They  kept  their 
ranks  always  full,  by  marching  fresh  regiments  up  to 
take  the  place  of  decimated  ones.  Thus  one  single,  un 
relieved  line,  stood  and  fought  five  different  regiments, 
from  one  o'clock  until  darkness  closed  the  scene.  The 
first  fire  from  the  enemy  killed  and  wounded  several  of 
the  men  of  both  regiments,  but  it  created  no  panic,  no 
confusion,  in  either.  The  Fifty-Ninth  only  replied  with 
a  more  hearty  good  will.  At  one  time  their  ammuni 
tion  gave  out,  and  they  fell  back  to  a  safer  position, 
until  it  could  be  replenished.  They  then  advanced  to 
their  old  position,  and  let  into  the  rebels  with  increased 
energy. 

During  the  whole  afternoon  not  a  man  flinched,  not 
an  officer  wavered.  One  or  two  subordinate  officers 
failed  to  share  the  honors  of  the  battle,  by  being  dila 
tory  about  going  in,  and  a  very  few  of  the  men ;  but 
those  that  were  there  did  their  whole  duty,  and  more 
than  prudence  demanded  of  them. 

Companies  K  and  F  suffered  more  in  killed  and 
wounded  than  any  other  two  companies,  from  their  be 
ing  in  a  more  exposed  position,  on  the  left  of  the  regi 
ment.  At  the  first  fire  several  of  their  men  fell.  Cap 
tain  Snyder,  commanding  Company  K,  and  Captain 
Kelly,  commanding  Company  F,  by  their  coolness  and 
good  judgment,  soon  maneuvered  their  companies  into 
such  positions  as  was  most  destructive  against  the 


94  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

enemy,  and  most  protective  to  themselves.  During  the 
whole  action  these  two  officers  displayed  a  bravery  and 
clearness  of  j  udgment  worthy  of  all  imitation.  Captains 
Hale,  Paine,  Winters,  Elliott,  Veatch  and  Taylor,  alike 
deserve  honorable  mention  for  their  bravery  and  daring 
during  the  engagement.  Each  vied  with  the  other  in 
proper  conduct  and  exemplary  bravery.  Colonel  Fred 
erick  and  Major  Post  were  ever  present  where  duty 
called,  fearless  of  consequences.  Although  constantly 
exposed,  Colonel  Frederick  escaped  unharmed;  not  so 
with  Major  Post.  About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon, 
a  minnie  ball  struck  him  on  the  arm,  passing  through 
the  fleshy  parts  without  injury  to  the  bone,  and  yet 
making  a  severe  wound.  He  retired  to  have  his  arm 
dressed,  and  then,  only  by  the  peremptory  order  of  the 
Surgeon,  was  he  prevented  from  going  back  into  the 
fight. 

The  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  regiment,  Doctor  II.  J. 
Maynard,  now  acting  Surgeon,  in  the  absence  of  Doctor 
Hazlett,  established  his  head-quarters  at  Leetown, 
where  the  wounded  were  ordered  to  be  brought  for 
surgical  attention.  Very  soon  after  the  first  volley  the 
wounded  began  to  arrive,  and  continued  to  come,  as 
fast,  and  sometimes  faster,  than  the}7  could  be  attended 
to,  the  remainder  of  the  day.  Thirty-eight  from  the 
Fifty-Ninth  alone  were  brought  in.  Doctor  Maynard, 
assisted  by  his  Hospital  Steward,  (the  writer  of  these 
pages,)  by  his  surgical  skill  and  kindness  of  treatment, 
made  these  men  as  comfortable  as  the  nature  of  their 
wounds  would  admit. 

The  names  of  those  brought  from  the  field  wounded 
are  as  follows : 

From  Company  K:  James  Yocum,  Corporal  Willard 
W.  Sheppard,  Corporal  William  Burns,  John  B.  Bass, 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  95 

V.  S.  Hawk,  Julius  Hiederiek,  Emuel  Herbert,  James 
Higgins,  Sergeant  Peter  Elliott,  Patrick  Powers,  John 
J.  Rue,  and  James  Donathy,  wounded.  Michael  D.  Sul 
livan,  of  this  company,  was  killed  on  the  field.  Thir 
teen  wounded,  and  one  killed. 

The  wounded  of  Company  F  were:  John  W.  Wil 
liams,  Silas  P.  Kamer,  Sergeant  Samuel  J.  Spohn,  Hi 
ram  Snearly,  John  Chittenden,  William  Welker,  David 
Groves,  and  Davis  L.  Kelly.  James  H.  Furgueson,  of 
Company  F,  was  killed  on  the  field.  Eight  wounded, 
and  one  killed. 

Company  B  had  two  wounded,  viz :  Richard  Ernest, 
and  G.  B.  Finch,  and  one  killed  on  the  field — G.  "W. 
Evans. 

The  wounded  of  Company  H  were:  William  H. 
Smith,  John  L.  Ransom,  William  1ST.  McGowan,  John 
W.  Hurst.  Peter  P.  Goodman  was  killed  on  the  field. 
Four  wounded,  and  one  killed. 

Company  D  lost  three  killed  on  the  field,  to  wit: 
Eugene  Cramball,  Henry  Spohn,  and  Isaac  Palmer. 

Company  I  lost  three  killed — Alfred  B.  Blake,  Henry 
Cramer,  and  William  H.  Cline. 

Company  C,  one  wounded — James  Murphy. 

There  were  a  few  whose  names  the  writer  has  mis 
laid  and  forgotten. 

Toward  evening  the  fire  began  to  slacken,  and  by  five 
o'clock  had  entirely  ceased,  both  armies  being  willing 
to  withdraw  from  the  contest.  The  Fifty-Ninth  fell 
back  to  the  east  of  Leetown,  a  short  distance,  and  lay 
on  their  arms  till  morning.  j 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th,  just  as  the  sun  began  to 
redden  the  eastern  horizon,  the  booming  of  cannon  was 
heard  from  the  direction  of  Cassville.  It  was  very  soon 
ascertained  that  General  Sigel  had  engaged  with  the 


96  FIFTY-XINTII    REGIMENT 

enemy,  on  our  right.  The  Fifty-Ninth  was  soon  in 
motion  toward  the  scene  of  action.  Arriving  on  the 
ground,  they  were  placed  in  position,  again  in  front  of 
the  enemy,  and  similar  to  yesterday,  with  an  open  field 
between  them.  They  remained  in  this  position  but  a 
short  time,  when  they  were  ordered  to  charge  across 
the  field,  and  rout  the  enemy  from  the  woods  beyond. 
This  was  accomplished  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  The 
enemy  were  driven  from  the  woods,  and  the  Fifty-Ninth 
had  played  its  part  of  this  great  tragedy.  Their  posi 
tion,  before  making  the  charge,  was  behind  a  fence,  in 
range  of  a  rebel  battery,  and  the  shot  from  this  battery 
was  very  annoying,  although  no  one  was  hit  by  it. 
They  lay  on  their  stomachs,  so  that  the  shot,  for  the 
most  part,  passed  over  them.  Occasionally  one  would 
fall  short,  and  throw  the  dirt  into  their  faces,  through 
the  cracks  in  the  fence.  One,  in  particular,  struck  so 
near  to  the  head  of  one  of  the  boys  as  to  fill  his  eyes 
completely.  "D — n  the  thing,"  said  he,  and,  twisting 
himself  around,  until  his  other  end  was  directed  toward 
the  enemy,  he  remarked  that  "now  they  might  shoot, 
and  be  d — d."  While  making  the  charge,  a  musket- 
ball  passed  through  the  clothing  of  Captain  Kelly,  and 
dropped  into  his  boot-leg.  In  the  early  part  of  the 
day,  while  Colonel  Frederick  was  riding  in  front  of  the 
regiment,  a  twelve-pound  cannon-ball  passed  so  close 
to  his  head  as  to  knock  him  from  his  horse,  insensible. 
It  was  several  hours  before  he  could  be  restored  to  con 
sciousness,  and  many  days  before  he  entirely  recovered 
from  the  concussion. 

During  the  fight  of  the  7th,  very  many  narrow  escapes 
of  the  men  occurred.  One  boy,  while  loading  his  gun, 
had  the  ram-rod  knocked  from  his  hand,  by  a  musket 
ball  from  the  enemy.  Another  one  had  his  gun-barrel 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  97 

hit,  and  bent  so  bad  as  to  be  useless.  One  man  had 
three  bullets  to  pass  through  his  hat,  and  many  escaped 
with  holes  through  different  parts  of  their  clothing. 
The  great  wonder  is,  that  all  were  not  killed — their  es 
cape  can  only  be  accounted  for,  on  the  principles  that 
"  God  and  right  was  on  our  side." 

An  anecdote  was  told  of  the  regimental  hospital 
nurse,  who  is  a  "live  Dutchman  in  a  fight,"  and  when 
not  employed,  was  always  in  the  front.  Soon  after  the 
engagement  commenced,  he,  with  his  gun,  was  standing 
near  Davidson's  battery,  looking  at  the  scene,  when  one 
of  the  battery-men  discovered  a  rebel,  in  the  distance, 
making  preparations  to  shoot  at  him.  The  battery- 
man  warned  him  of  his  danger,  and  pointed  to  the 
rebel;  instantly  the  nurse  raised  his  gun,  and  both  guns 
cracked  at  the  same  time.  The  rebel  fell,  and  Ebling 
was  unharmed. 

During  the  night  of  the  7th,  Dr.  MMynard,  had  a 
sufficient  number  of  tents  pitched,  to  shelter  comforta 
bly  all  the  wounded,  and  the  morning  of  the  8th  pre 
sented  a  sad,  but  lively  appearance  at  Leetown.  Cooks 
and  nurses,  were  active  in  providing  for  and  adminis 
tering  to  the  wants  of  the  unfortunate  heroes  of  the 
day  before.  Nothing  that  would  tend  to  alleviate  their 
sufferings,  was  neglected.  Long  will  the  wounded  of 
Pea  Ridge,  remember  Dr.  H.  J.  Maynard. 

Sunday,  the  9th,  was  a  day  of  rest  to  the  Fifty-Ninth. 
The  enemy  had  disappeared,  and  all  was  quiet  over  the 
hills  of  Cross  Timbers.  The  soldiers  had  nothing  to 
.do,  but  wander  over  the  battle-field,  and  talk  of  the 
incidents  of  the  two  day's  fight.  And  this  was  enough 
for  one  day.  The  dead  and  wounded  were,  many  .of 
them,  still  on  the  field.  The  rebel  dead  were  all  un- 
buried,  and  many  of  their  wounded  were  uncared  for. 

co 


98  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

Detachments  from  the  rebel  army  were  busy,  under  a 
flag  of  truce,  in  collecting  and  carrying  their  wounded 
to  hospital,  and  in  burying  their  dead.  Many  are  hid 
away  in  the  bushes,  who  will  never  have  a  burial. 
Years  hence,  their  bones  will  be  discovered  bleaching  in 
the  sun.  Such  is  the  case  on  every  battle  field.  Friend 
and  foe  alike,  are  left  undiscovered.  Some,  perhaps, 
mortally  wounded,  crawl  away  to  the  shelter  of  a  friendly 
thicket,  that  they  may  escape  capture  by  the  enemy, 
and  here  remain,  until  death  claims  them  for  his  own. 
Months  hence,  they  are  discovered,  and  then  the  cry 
goes  out,  that  the  enemy  is  barbarous,  because  the  dead 
were  left  unburied. 

The  scene  over  this  field  of  carnage,  beggars  all  des 
cription.  Sights  calculated  to  chill  the  blood,  and 
strike  the  mind  with  horror,  meet  you  on  every  side. 
Here  is  a  human  body,  with  the  mangled  remnants  of  a 
head,  which  a  cannon  ball  has  torn  to  fragments.  There 
lies  another  with  both  legs  shot  away.  Here  is  one,  the 
top  of  whose  skull  is  gone,  leaving  the  brain  all  exposed 
to  the  weather,  and  see  !  he  is  still  alive.  After  twen 
ty-four  hours  in  this  condition,  he  yet  lives.  Great  is 
the  tenacity  of  human  life  !  Look  yonder  !  there  is  one 
whose  light  of  life  has  gone  out,  as  a  lighted  lamp  in  a 
gentle  wind.  There  is  no  disturbance  of  features,  no 
marks  of  violence  about  him.  He  is  sitting  at  the 
roots  of  a  large  tree,  with  his  back  supported  by  the 
trunk;  his  gun  is  resting  in  the  bend  of  his  arm;  how 
natural !  while  sitting  thus,  a  minnie  ball  had  pierced 
his  heart,  and  thus  he  died.  The  number  on  his  cap 
denotes  the  regiment  to  which  he  belongs,  which  is 
now  in  another  part  of  the  field ;  thus  accounting  for 
his  not  having  yet  received  burial.  Ah  !  here  comes 
two  men  with  the  same  numbers  on  their  caps  that  he 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  99 

has  on  his,  and  they  are  in  search  of  him.  How  fortu 
nate  they  are.  They  are  his  friends  and  were  his  mess 
mates.  How  sad  to  find  him  thus,  what  news  to  send 
his  friends  at  home  !  His  mother !  '  Twill  break  her 
heart ;  so  loved  was  he,  so  loved  by  all  who  knew  him. 
He  had  a  premonition  of  his  doom  the  morning  of  the 
battle,  and  told  his  friends  so,  told  them  he  would  be 
killed  that  day,  and  gave  them  all  his  letters  and  his 
pictures  of  the  dear  ones  at  home.  Among  them  was 
a  picture  of  his  hearts  beloved,  his  betrothed,  an  angel 
in  beauty.  These  two  friends  weep,  and  we  pass  on. 

What  is  that  fellow  doing  ?  That  fellow  in  the  dress 
of  a  Union  soldier,  what  is  he  doing  ?  He  is  rifling  the 
pockets  of  the  dead.  Let's  see  what  he  has  found  in 
that  man's  pocket.  A  small  pocket  book,  and  a  letter 
or  two,  pen  knife  and  comb.  The  pocket  book  has  two 
or  three  dollars  of  confederate  script,  for  the  dead  man 
was  a  rebel,  and  a  locket  of  hair,  very  fine  silky  hair, 
evidently  clipped  from  the  locks  of  some  very  young 
person,  perhaps  an  infant  daughter.  How  mean  this 
Union  soldier  is,  to  rob  the  parent  dead  of  this  cher 
ished  memento  of  his  lovely  little  daughter  !  Why  not 
bury  it  with  him  ? 

The  man  those  men  are  lifting  so  carefully  into  the 
ambulance  yonder,  was  wounded  yesterday  morning, 
and  has  been  lying  on  the  cold  ground  without  any  cov 
ering,  ever  since.  His  wound  was  not  a  mortal  one, 
but  now  his  limbs  are  all  stiffened  by  the  exposure,  and 
his  life  is  the  sacrifice.  Had  he  remained  a  short  time 
longer  in  his  exposed  condition,  he  would  have  added 
one  more  to  the  number  of  these  they  are  collecting  for 
burial,  over  in  that  pleasant  grove.  The  grave  is  being 
dug,  and  only  seven  have  yet  been  found  to  fill  it.  It 
is  large  enough  to  hold  at  least  a  dozen.  The  Union 


100  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

soldier,  when  buried  by  his  comrades,  is  generally  buried 
in  a  civilized  manner ;  but  rebels  are  traitors  together, 
while  living,  and  are  not  separated  in  the  grave,  when 
dead.  Such  are  a  few  of  the  many  interesting  sights 
that  meet  the  eye,  in  passing  over  the  battle  ground  of 
Pea  Ridge,  on  this  Sabbath  morning. 

Sergeant  Silas  Garner,  and  private  John  "Williams,  of 
Company  F,  died  in  the  hospital  from  the  effects  of 
their  wounds  on  the  8th,  and  were  buried  with  the 
honors  of  war.  Wm.  N.  McGowan,  of  Company  H, 
Samuel  J.  Spohwn  of  Company  F,  and  John  "W.  Hurst 
of  Company  H,  died,  the  two  former  on  the  12th,  and 
the  latter  on  the  13th.  Wm.  N".  McGowan  was  one  of 
the  musicians  for  the  regiment.  It  was  his  duty  to  beat 
the  drum,  not  to  handle  the  musket ;  but  when  he  saw 
his  comrades  marching  to  the  battle,  his  brave  heart 
spurned  the  idea  of  his  remaining  idle.  He  shouldered 
a  musket,  fell  into  ranks  with  his  old  company,  and 
manfully  assisted  in  repelling  the  foe.  He  remained  on 
the  field  doing  his  duty,  until  towards  the  close  of  the 
day's  battle,  when  a  minnie  ball  struck  him,  and  he 
was  brought  off  mortally  wounded.  He  lingered,  under 
great  suffering,  but  with  a  proud  consciousness  of  the 
noble  sacrifice  he  was  making  for  his  country,  until  the 
morning  of  the  12th,  when  he  expired  with  the  resig 
nation  of  a  hero.  All  honor  to  the  brave  !  In  this 
brave  boy's  pocket,  was  twenty  dollars  in  money,  which 

was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Captain ,to  be  forwarded 

to  his  widowed  mother,  at  Charleston,  Illinois.  Several 
months  afterwards,  the  writer  was  informed,  by  letter 
received  from  this  poor  widow  woman,  that  the  money 

had  never  been  given  to  her.     Captain resigned 

his  commission  soon  after  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  and 
it  is  to  be  hoped  he  found  a  resting  place  in  some  parts 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEER 

unknown  to  anybody.     Many  a  dollar,  belonging  to  the 
dead  soldier,  has  been  thus  appropriated. 

After  a  very  stormy  night,  Monday  morning  came  in 
clear  and  pleasant,  and  hundreds  of  idle  soldiers  were 
scattered  over  the  battle  field,  to  the  west  of  Leetown, 
in  search  of  whatsoever  might  be  found  there.  Gen 
eral  Davis'  Division  was  lying  to  the  east,  and  General 
Sigel's  to  the  north  of  town.  About  eight  o'clock, 
boom  went  a  cannon,  from  the  direction  of  Sigel's  camp, 
and  a  shell  went  hurling  over  Leetown,  in  the  direction 
of  the  battle  field.  Soon  another  followed,  and  at  the 
same  time  a  column  of  cavalry  was  seen  approaching 
from  the  west,  which  was  supposed  to  be  rebel.  "  The 
rebels  are  coming,  the  rebels  are  coming,"  was  shouted 
from  mouth  to  mouth,  over  the  field,  and  each  one 
broke  for  his  regiment.  The  attention  of  all  in  town, 
was  attracted  by  the  reports  of  the  guns,  and  the  street 
was  soon  lined  by  the  curious,  eager  to  know  what  was 
up.  "  The  rebels  are  coming,"  came  up  the  street,  fol 
lowed  closely  by  scores  of  fleeing  soldiers,  some  on 
horseback,  but  many  more  on  foot,  each  vieing  with 
the  other,  as  to  who  should  get  out  of  the  way  the 
quickest.  "  The  rebels  are  coming,  stop  them  !  "  cries 
a  horseman,  with  hat  off  and  hair  flying  in  the  wind. 
"What's  up?"  asks  one  of  the  boys  of  this  valorous 
horseman.  "  The  rebels  are  coming,  and  I  am  trying 
to  stop  these  fellows — halt  there  !  "  and  away  he  goes, 
more  frightened  than  the  rest.  Pretty  soon,  General 
Sigel  comes  riding  very  deliberately  up  the  road,  by 
himself,  and  some  one  asks  him  the  cause  of  the  stam 
pede.  "Oh,  nothing,"  said  he,  with  a  peculiar  twinkle 
of  the  eye,  "  I  was  only  making  a  few  of  my  leetle  ar 
rangements."  Discipline  had  become  too  loose  to  suit 
his  military  fancy,  and  he  had  arranged  this  scare  for 


FIFTY-NINTH   KEGIMENT  ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

the  purpose  of  put'ting  the  army  on  the  quie  vive.  In 
five  minutes  after  the  first  report,  the  whole  army  was 
under  arms,  ready  for  any  emergency.  The  first  shell 
fired,  struck  not  far  from  a  forage  train  that  was  bring 
ing  in  corn,  and  the  way  they  came  into  camp  was  a 
caution  to  all  mule  drivers.  No  one  was  hurt,  only  in 
feelings. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


On  the  afternoon  of  the  10th,  the  regiment  moved 
with  the  division,  a  few  miles  south  of  Leetown,  and 
here  the  writer  lost  sight  of  it  for  several  days,  as  he 
was  detained  at  the  hospital  to  assist  in  caring  for  the 
wounded.  Nothing,  however,  of  interest  occurred  dur 
ing  his  absence,  except  the  visit  of  the  Paymaster,  and 
a  few  changes  of  camp. 

By  remaining  at  hospital,  the  writer  escaped  much 
hard  fare,  as  the  army  was,  for  several  days,  entirely 
destitute  of  provisions,  and  subsisted  solely  on  parched 
corn  and  nothing  else.  By  very  great  exertions,  Dr. 
Maynard  succeeded  in  keeping  a  supply  at  the  hospital, 
until  the  orders  came  to  move  all  the  wounded  to  Cass- 
ville,  twenty  miles  farther  north. 

On  the  14th,  the  wounded  were  started  for  Cassville; 
some  were  too  badly  hurt  to  be  handled  so  roughly,  and 
were  not  sent.  Among  these  were  James  Murphy  and 
John  L.  Eansom,  and  John  B.  Bass,  who  had  a  leg  am 
putated.  James  Murphy  died  on  the  18th.  The  others 
were  subsequently  brought  up.  The  writer  was  or 
dered  to  report  at  Cassville  with  the  wounded,  and  here 
is  an  extract  from  a  letter  written  to  his  daughter  soon 
after  his  arrival : 

~*'  Wednesday  morning,  the  19th.  I  am  up  pretty 
early  this  morning  as  usual.  The  sun  is  just  beginning 
to  tinge  the  horizon  with  his  red  beams,  and  the  prom- 

(103) 


104  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

ise  of  a  pretty  day  is  written  on  the  sky  above  him. 
The  night  has  been  a  stormy  one.  It  was  raining  when 
I  spread  my  blankets,  but  now  the  sky  is  clear,  the 
atmosphere  pure  and  bracing,  and  indicates  a  few  days 
of  fine  spring  weather.  Spring  is  opening  earlier  here 
than  in  Illinois,  as  we  are  farther  south.  If  you  will 
examine,  you  will  find  that  Cassville  is  more  than  two 
hundred  miles  south  of  where  you  live,  and  of  course 
the  climate  is  more  mild  and  the  seasons  earlier.  "We 
have  had  quite  a  number  of  warm,  spring-like  days, 
and  the  grass  looks  quite  green.  The  buds  on  the 
trees  will  soon  open  out,  and  it  will  not  be  long  till 
nature  will  all  be  clothed  in  its  summer  garb. 

"Cassville  is  situated  in  a  pretty  location.  It  is  in  a 
small  valley,  surrounded  by  hills  of  different  magni 
tude.  On  the  east  are  several  ridges  of  considerable 
highth,  dotted  on  their  sides  with  cedar  trees  in  green, 
which  are  nature  to  the  rocky  hill  sides  of  this  region. 
At  the  foot  of  one  of  these  ridges,  a  four  story  mill 
contrasts  her  white  coating  of  paint  with  the  green  of 
the  cedar,  and  produces  a  pleasing,  romantic  picture. 
A  small  stream  meanders  along  at  the  base  of  those 
hills,  with  here  and  there  a  spring  gushing  from  among 
the  rocks,  or  boiling  up  from  even  the  bed  of  the  stream. 
On  the  west  there  are  also  hills  of  considerable  highth. 
The  valley  is  a  mile  wide,  and  two.  or  three  miles  long, 
or  perhaps  more.  The  soil  is  rich  and  productive. 
From  my  room  I  can  lopk  out  over  a  field  of  wheat, 
which  completely  clothes  the  ground  in  living  green. 
It  is  quite  refreshing  to  sit  here,  and  look  upon  a  green 
spot  of  earth,  after  having  contemplated  only  the  sear 
and  barren  trunks  of  trees  and  brush  for  four  long 
months  of  winter.  From  another  window  I  can  see  a 
pretty  little  cottage,  white  as  the  driven  snow,  nestled 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  105 

in  amoDg  the  surroundings  of  a  cultivated  home.  A 
large  fine  orchard,  and  all  the  out-buildings  of  comfort, 
and  all  deserted.  "Wounded  soldiers  are  spread  over 
the  floors  of  the  house,  and  soldiers'  horses  are  tied  to 
and  destroying  the  fruit  trees,  and  soldiers'  fires  have 
hurned  the  rails  and  boards  which  inclose  the  premises. 
Dreadful  are  the  ravages  of  war!  Cassville  is  situated 
in  the  center  of  this  valley,  and  was  a  thriving,  pretty 
town  before  the  war.  There  are  about  forty  good 
dwelling  houses,  six  store  rooms,  and  a  very  decent  lit 
tle  court  house,  besides  blacksmith  shops,  &c. 

"When  we  came  here,  there  were  only  four  families 
remaining  in  town,  and  they  were  women  and  children, 
the  men  being  in  the  army.  Now,  there  are  over  four 
hundred  wounded  and  sick  soldiers  quartered  here; 
every  house  is  full  and  some  are  in  tents  outside.  The 
houses  are  being  torn  up,  so  as  to  be  made  more  conve 
nient  for  bedding  the  wounded.  The  fencing  before 
the  door  yard  is  being  torn  down  and  burned,  and 
anything  which  adds  to  the  comfort  and  convenience 
of  those  here,  is  being  appropriated  without  let  or 
hindrance. 

There  is  another  pretty  town,  five  miles  from  here, 
in  precisely  the  same  condition,  filled  with  sick  and 
wounded.  These  two  towns  are  samples  of  all  the 
towns  in  Missouri,  where  the  armies  have  been.  The 
citizens  have  fled  and  the  soldiers  have  destroyed  their 
property.  Many  fine  houses  have  been  burned  on  our 
march,  and  others  entirely  riddled,  windows  broken, 
doors  torn  from  their  hinges,  &c.  Both  armies  are  en 
gaged  in  destroying;  what  the  enemy  leaves,  our  men 
destroy.  The  enemy  destroys  Union  property,  and  the 
Union  troops  destroy  secesh  property — and  there  being 
only  the  two  kinds  of  property,  it  is  ALL  destroyed. 


106  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

"An  express  rider  has  just  came  in  from  the  army, 
bringing  news  that  Price  is  moving  towards  them 
again.  We,  here,  can't  tell  what  reliance  can  be  given 
the  report.  If  it  is  true,  and  he  should  continue  to  ad 
vance,  there  will  be  some  more  hard  fighting.  I  do 
most  sincerely  hope  that  our  regiment  may  not  get  into 
another  engagement  here.  If  it  should,  we,  in  the  hos 
pital,  will  not  get  away  from  here  for  two  or  three 
months  to  come,  unless  Price  should  be  victorious  and 
drive  us  out  on  double  quick;  for  the  wounded  will  be 
brought  here,  and  of  course  will  prolong  our  time  as 
much  longer  as  the  difference  between  the  time  of  the 
first  fight  and  that  which  shall  come  off  now.  But  it 
is  not  on  account  of  that  alone,  that  I  am  unfriendly  to 
another  battle.  I  have  seen  enough  of  the  suffering 
attending  the  wounded  of  the  last  battle.  Poor  fellows ! 
They  bear  it  patiently,  and  make  light  of  the  most  se 
rious  wounds.  I  do  not  suppose  it  would  be  very  in 
teresting  to  you  to  read  a  description  of  the  wounds  we 
have  to  dress  every  morning,  or  I  would  describe  some 
of  them.  We  have  eighty  different  wounds  to  dress 
in  our  building,  and  you  can  imagine  how  great  the 
variety.  Some  are  about  the  head,  some  about  the 
body,  arms,  legs,  feet  and  hands;  some  are  only  slightly 
wounded,  but  the  majority  are  badly  hurt.  One  poor 
fellow  died  yesterday,  from  the  effect  of  a  ball  through 
the  lungs;  and  others  will  die  from  their  wounds.  Our 
men  are  well  provided  for  here.  They  have  all  the  at 
tention  from  Surgeons  and  nurses  that  they  require, 
and  all  the  food  and  other  comforts  necessary  for  them. 
Dr.  Clark,  of  the  Thirty-Seventh  Illinois  Volunteers,  is 
our  Surgeon.  Dr.  Maynard  was  left  with  the  regiment. 
I  am  in  charge  of  the  wounded  from  our  regiment,  and 
Thomas  Kelly  is  with  us  as  Warden.  We  two  are  the 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  107 

only  ones  of  our  acquaintances  here,  excepting  Hiram 
Snearly,  who  is  quite  badly  wounded,  the  ball  passing 
through  the  arm,  close  to  the  shoulder,  and  into  the 
side  under  the  arm,  and  coming  out  below  the  shoulder 
blade  behind.  His  wound  seems  to  be  doing  well,  yet 
it  is  difficult  to  tell  what  the  result  may  be.  I  shall 
now  retire  from  the  desk,  and  finish  this  short  epistle 
at  some  other  sitting. 

"I  am  sleepy  to-day,  at  three  o'clock,  because  of  not 
sleeping  well  last  night.  The  floor,  some  how  or  other, 
was  unusually  hard  last  night,  and  caused  me  to  be 
restless.  I  prophesied  fair  weather  yesterday — this  is 
the  20th — but  was  deceived  by  appearances.  "We  are 
very  often  deceived  by  appearances.  In  an  hour  after 
I  had  made  the  prophesy,  the  sky  was  completely 
clouded  over,  and  has  remained  so  ever  since ;  and  now 
it  is  spitting  snow. 

"Keports  are  still  coming  in  of  the  advance  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  retreat  of  our  army.  It  is  said  that 
Price  has  been  strongly  reinforced,  and  now  numbers 
more  men  than  he  did  at  first.  We  have  also  been  re 
inforced  to  the  number  of  one  thousand  men,  but  are 
still  far  inferior,  as  to  number,  to  the  enemy.  It  is 
probable,  that  our  army  will  make  a  stand  at  or  near 
Keitsville,  eight  miles  from  here,  where,  if  the  enemy 
comes  upon  them,  they  will  have  a  hard  fight. 

"The  Fifty ^inth  and  the  Thirty-Seventh  Illinois 
regiments,  occupied  the  court  house  as  an  hospital.  Dr. 
Clark,  of  the  Thirty-Seventh  Illinois,  having  the  super 
vision  of  the  whole.  I 

"On  the  23d  of  March,  it  became  evident  that  John 
son  Kelly,  of  company  D,  Fifty-Ninth  Regiment  Illi 
nois  Volunteers,  would  either  have  to  undergo  the  op 
eration  of  having  his  le^  amputated,  or  lose  his  life — 


108  FIFTY-NINTH   KEGIMKNT 

or  perhaps  both.  Dr.  Clark  proceeded  to  the  operation. 
Chloroform  was  administered  in  the  usual  manner,  and 
the  leg  taken  off  without  the  knowledge  of  the  patient. 
The  amputation  was  very  handsomely  performed,  but 
it  proved  to  be  useless.  In  four  hours  the  patient  was 
dead.  Johnson  Kelly  was  buried  with  the  honors  of 
war,  on  the  24th  of  March,  1862.  Hiram  Snearly  lin 
gered  until  the  22d  of  April,  1862,  with  the  hope  firmly 
fixed  in  his  mind  that  he  would  get  well.  He  was  told 
by  the  Surgeon  and  by  his  friends,  that  he  could  not 
survive,  but  he  believed  them  not.  His  spirits  were 
buoyant  to  the  very  last  hour  of  his  existence.  He 
died  and  was  also  buried  with  the  honors  of  a  soldier. 

"A  day  or  two  after  coming  to  Cassville,  Dr.  Clark 
requested  a  detail  from  the  Provost  Marshall,  to  clean 
up  around  the  court  house.  Captain  Montgomery  hap 
pened  to  have  a  squad  of  rebel  prisoners  at  Cassville, 
at  fhis  time,  and  they  were  set  to  work  picking  up  the 
rubbish  in  the  court  house  yard — Captain  Montgomery 
overseeing  them  himself.  From  the  wrongs  his  family 
had  received  at  their  hands,  his  heart  had  become  en 
tirely  callous  to  any  pity.  "With  the  greatest  apparent 
satisfaction,  he  rode  round  among  these  fellows  very 
much  like  one  of  their  own  negro  drivers,  with  whip  in 
hand  and  bitter  curses  on  his  tongue;  and  if  one  ceased 
from  his  labor,  whack  went  the  whip  and  glib  the 
tongue. 

"Among  these  prisoners  was  an  intelligent  Catholic 
priest,  from  Louisiana.  This  morning  he  was  unwell, 
and  entirely  unaccustomed  to  picking  up  chips,  his 
progress  a-t  work  was  rather  slow.  The  Captain  seemed 
to  take  special  delight  in  tormenting  him.  *  Well/  says 
he,  i  old  fellow  I  pity  you,  indeed;  but  it  can't  be  helped 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  109 

You.  must  take  care  m  the  future  to  be  caught  in  better 
company.  If  you  had  kept  out  of  the  company  of  these 
imps  of  hell,  you  would  not  now  be  degrading  yourself 
by  manual  labor — work  away  then  my  old  priesty. ' " 


CHAPTER   XVI 


On  the  6th  of  April  the  Fifty-Ninth,  with  the  balance  of 
the  Division,  arrived  at  Cassville,  en  route  for  Forsyth, 
which  is  sixty  miles  east  of  here.  After  halting  long 
enough  to  rest,  and  visit  their  wounded  friends  in  hos 
pital,  they  moved  out  some  two  miles  to  the  east  of 
the  town,  and  encamped  on  Big  Mill  Creek.  The 
march  was  continued  on  the  seventh,  through  the  most 
dreary  and  least  inhabited  portion  of  Missouri  that  the 
army  had  yet  seen.  For  seven  or  eight  miles  east  of 
Cassville  the  soil  is  arid,  and  covered  with  small  white 
flint- stone,  with  here  and  there  a  miserably  poor  speci 
men  of  a  black-jack,  struggling  for  a  scanty  existence. 
From  this  upper  plateau  of  the  Ozark  Mountains,  the 
road  drops  down  through  a  narrow  defile,  with  hills 
two  hundred  feet  high  on  either  side,  the  base  of  the 
hills  meeting  so  close  at  the  foot  as  barely  to  admit  the  pas 
sage  of  a  wagon,  until  i.t  emerges  into  the  Rock  House 
Creek  Valley.  From  this  point  the  valley  begins  to 
widen  to  the  south,  where,  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach, 
the  horizon  is  bounded  by  a  low  range  of  purple- 
colored  hills. 

This  beautiful  valley  has  been  the  frequent  scene  of 
lawless  incursions  from  the  rebel  outlaws,  and  the  in 
habitants,  before  the  arrival  of  the  Union  army  in  the 
vicinity,  were  kept  in  a  continued  state  of  trepidation 
and  alarm.  The  people  are  mostly  Union  in  their  sen- 

(110) 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  Ill 

timents,  there  being  but  three  secesh  in  this  whole  re 
gion  of  country.  Bauds  of  outlaws  frequently  came 
down  from  Cassville,  and  would  rob  the  Union  men  of 
everything  in  the  house — blankets,  bread  and  bacon. 
If  they  caught  the  owner,  he  would  be  taken  under 
guard  to  Cassville,  where  he  would  be  tried  before  a 
self-constituted  vigilance  committee. 

The  head  of  this  committee  was  the  notorious  "  Joe 
Peevy,"  former  Sheriff  of  Barry  county.  This  Peevy 
was  a  terror  to  the  whole  country.  He  is  resolute, 
brave,  and  a  man  of  great  and  indomitable  energy. 
He  seems  to  have  been  governed  in  his  actions  by  a 
spirit  of  rude  justice,  which  he  administered  alike  to 
friend  and  foe.  His  capture  and  imprisonment  at  Cass 
ville,  by  our  men,  gave  great  satisfaction  to  the  people 
everywhere. 

General  Curtis,  while  passing  through  Keitsville,  had 
planted  a  Union  flag  on  one  of  the  houses  in  town,  and 
this  man  Peevy,  a  few  days  afterwards,  took  it  down, 
and  carried  it  off.  In  a  few  days,  therefore,  some  of 
our  boys  came  across  him,  in  the  timber,  and  brought 
him  to  Cassville,  under  guard. 

Joe  Peevy  came  down  through  this  valley,  last  sum 
mer,  with  a  squad  of  his  lawless  jay-hawkers,  and  got  a 
handsome  drubbing  by  the  hardy  mountaineers,  under 
Charles  Galloway  and  "  Old  Jimmy  Moore,"  at  Clark's 
Mill,  on  Flat  Creek.  Only  one  Union  man,  by  the 
name  of  Boyce,  was  killed,  while  twelve  of  the  rebels 
were  left  on  the  field  hors  du  combat.  A  man  named 
Jeff.  Hudson  was  waylaid,  last  week,  by  a  party  of 
secesh,  and  fired  upon.  He  was  hit  in  the  toe,  but  re 
turned  the  fire  on  his  pursuers,  while  falling  back,  and 
made  his  escape.  Another  young  man,  named  James 


112  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT. 

Keeves,  was  shot  at,  while  returning  home,  the  other 
evening,  near  Jenkins'  Creek. 

The  farms  through  this  valley,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  main  roads,  are  laid  waste.  Fences  are  burned 
up,  and  buildings  are  deserted,  and  torn  to  pieces.  ~No 
preparations  are  being  made  for  putting  in  spring  crops 
by  the  few  farmers  yet  remaining  here. 

"  To  mute,  and  to  material  things, 
New  life  revolving  summer  brings ; 
The  gentle  call  dead  nature  hears, 
And  in  her  glory  re-appears. 
But  O!  this  country's  winter  state, 
What  second  spring  shall  renovate." 

The  evening  of  the  8th  found  the  regiment  en 
camped  at  a  place  called  "  Cape  Fair/'  in  Stone  county, 
Missouri.  It  reached  this  "  God-forsaken"  place  after 
having  marched  over  a  broken  range  of  mountains,  of 
some  twenty-five  miles,  since  morning.  The  direct 
distance  would  not  exceed  twelve  miles,  to  the  old 
camp,  but,  owing  to  the  circuitous  windings  of  the 
road,  it  was  increased  two-fold. 

No  one  can  have  an  adequate  idea  of  the  picturesque 
scenery,  and  wild  alpine  views,  which  everywhere 
greets  the  eye  of  the  traveler  in  this  section  of  the 
State. 

The  road  passes  along  the  winding  crests  of  a  suc 
cessive  range  of  mountains,  frequently  curving  around, 
and  doubling,  so  that,  in  many  places,  the  head  of  the 
column  seemed  to  be  marching  to  the  rear,  and  to^be 
within  speaking  distance  of  the  troops  two  or  three 
miles  behind.  Occasionally  the  eye  would  overlook 
profound  gorges,  of  seemingly  impenetrable  depth,  anon 
broad  valleys  would  appear  on  either  side,  and  the 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  113 

blue  tops  of  mist-covered  mountains  be  seen  away  to 
the  north,  as  far  as  Springfield,  or  shutting  in  the  hor 
izon,  on  the  south,  far  beyond  the  Arkansas  line,  soin-e 
sixteen  miles  distant.  This  noble  scenery  extorted  fre 
quent  expressions  of  surprise  and  admiration  from  the 
most  indifferent  spectator  of  the  sublime  in  natural 
scenery.  We  frequently  saw  those  singular  looking 
hills,  often  met  in  Missouri,  covered  with  a  white,  flinty 
rock,  as  if  sown  broad-cast,  giving  the  landscape  an 
appearance  as  if  whitened  by  a  snow-storm,  or  a  shower 
of  ashes. 

We  passed  through  a  portion  of  the  extensive 
"pinery,"  from  which  lumber  of  a  fine  quality  is  pro 
cured,  and  transported  for  building  material  to  various 
parts  of  the  State.  The  day  was  cloudy,  and  the  mel 
ancholy  murmur  of  the  breeze  through  the  "pine  tree's 
wavy  top,"  added  to  the  sombre  character  of  our  march. 
ISTot  a  house  was  to^be  seen,  nor  did  we  meet  with  but 
one  solitary  passenger,  who,  of  course,  was  taken  in 
hand  by  each  successive  officer,  and  subjected  to  an  ex- 
parte  examination.  The  desolate  condition  of  the  re 
gion  passed  was  hit  off  by  a  cavalry-man,  who  volun 
teered  the  opinion  "that  a  blue-jay,  in  flying  over, 
would  have  to  carry  a  haversack,  lashed  to  his  wings, 
or  starve."  The  assertion  would  certainly  be  true  of  a 
"  blue-jay  hawker." 

Cape  Fair,  where  we  are  encamped,  has  a  few  win- 
dowless  huts,  situated  in  the  bend  of  Flat  Creek.  The 
latter  stream,  which  bubbles  up  out  of  the  ground  at 
Cassville,  is  here  anything  but  flat.  The  stream,  like 
the  "arrowy  Rhone,"  pours  an  angry,  black  volume 
past  here,  as  it  comes  down  from  the  mountains,  and, 
at  this  period  of  the  year,  is  swollen  so  as  to  be  impas 
sable,  except  to  horses  or  boats.  Flat  Creek  empties 

(8) 


114  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

into  Ja-mes  River,  a  mile  below  this  point.  The  latter 
stream  is  so  much  swollen,  by  the  recent  freshets,  that 
fqrding  is  impracticable,  and  the  army,  it  is  thought, 
will  have  to  rest  here  several  days,  unless  the  stream, 
some  three  miles  below,  at  Mr.  Carr's,  is  fordable. 

Had  Price  been  a  few  miles  on  the  other  side,  it 
would  not  have  taken  the  army  long  to  have  found  a 
way  of  crossing  over. 

In  coming  from  Springfield  the  streams  were  not  an 
impediment.  The  cavalry  were  invariably  in  the  ad 
vance,  with  some  mountain  howitzers,  and,  whenever 
they  could  come  within  shelling  distance  of  the  enemy, 
they  threw  some  shells  at  them.  The  report  of  the 
guns  would  come  back  over  the  hills  to  the  column  of 
infantry,  and  then  the  order  would  surely  be  sent  along 
the  line  to  double-quick.  The  column  would  move  off, 
for  a  mile  or  two,  on  double-quick,  and  if  a  stream, 
large  or  small,  was  to  be  crossed,  no  halt  would  be 
made,  but  "forward"  was  the  word,  and  the  stream 
was  crossed.  This  stream  would  have  been  crossed,  in 
the  same  way,  had  the  enemy  been  in  the  front.  For 
tunately  there  was  no  great  emergency,  as  it  was  rather 
uncertain  where  the  enemy  would  spring  up.  Rumors 
were  unreliable,  and  positive  information  could  not  be 
had  as  to  Price's  whereabouts.  A  force  was  known  to 
be  at  Forsyth,  but  how  large,  or  of  what  importance,  no 
one  seemed  to  know;  yet  it  was  important  that  the 
army  should  be  on  the  move,  as  this  was  an  out-of-the- 
way  place,  and  rations  might  soon  become  scarce.  How 
was  the  river  to  be  crossed?  Some  suggested  one  plan, 
and  some  another.  But  the  ingenuity  of  some  one 
suggested  a  bridge  of  wagons  for  the  troops  to  march 
over  on.  Wagons  were,  therefore,  placed  in  line,  from 
one  shore  to  the  other,  and  boards  laid  over  the  tops  of 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  115 

the  wagon  beds.  This  made  an  excellent  bridge  for 
footmen,  and,  by  four  o'clock  of  the  9th,  the  army  was 
all  over,  and  in  camp  on  the  opposite  shore. 

The  march  was  continued  the  next  morning,  and  the 
evening  of  the  10th  witnessed  the  camping  of  the  army 
on  the  east  bank  of  Big  Bear  Eiver,  forty-eight  miles 
from  Cassville. 

The  streams  in  this  country  are  most  beautiful. 
They  are  not  large,  nor  deep,  but  of  very  rapid  current. 
Their  waters,  excepting  after  heavy  rains,  when  they 
become  thickened  by  the  washings  from  the  mountains, 
are  as  clear  as  the  purest  crystal.  They  are  fed  by 
springs  from  the  mountain  gorges,  and  these  are  so 
numerous  as  to  increase  the  small  rivulet  to  a  good- 
sized  stream,  within  the  distance  of  a  few  miles. 

The  march,  at  one  time,  was  down  a  narrow  ravine, 
at  the  head  of  which  was  issuing,  from  under  an  over 
hanging  rock,  a  small  spring.  In  following  down  the 
ravine,  this  stream  was  crossed  several  times,  and  each 
crossing  developed  a  largely  increased  stream,  when, 
at  the  last  crossing,  not  five  miles  from  the  first  little 
spring,  the  water  was  up  to  the  axle-trees  of  the  wag 
ons,  and  at  least  twenty  feet  in  width,  and  large  fish 
were  seen  swimming  beneath  its  pellucid  surface. 

On  the  morning  of  the  llth,  the  regiment  pitched 
tents  at  the  foot  of  one  of  the  rugged  Ozark  mounts, 
that  overlook  the  small  valley  of  Big  Bear  River.  The 
camp  is  named  "  Good  News/'  because  here  was  re 
ceived  the  news  of  the  capture  of  Island  Number  Ten, 
by  General  Pope.  It  is  ten  miles  from  Forsyth,  in 
Taney  county,  Missouri. 

An  incident  of  exceeding  interest  occurred  here  on 
the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  the  18th.  It  was  no  less  than 


116  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT. 

the   delivery   of    a   sermon  by    the   Chaplain    of   the 
regiment. 

Dr.  Hazlett  had  returned  to  the  regiment  while  it 
lay  at  Cassville,  and  was  now  in  charge — Doctor  May- 
nard  being  still  detained  with  the  wounded  atLeetown. 
On  the  evening  of  the  arrival  in  camp  here,  the  wagons 
rvere  not  all  up,  in  consequence  of  bad  roads,  and  Doc 
tor  Hazlett  was  without  blankets.  Lieutenant  Brasher, 
Quartermaster  of  the  regiment,  was  a  particular  friend 
of  the  Doctor's,  and  proffered  to  lend  him  blankets  for 
the  night.  The  Doctor  sent  his  orderly,  and  had  a  nice 
bed  made.  Being  very  tired,  he  soon  fell  asleep,  and 
slept  soundly  for  two  or  three  hours.  Something  now 
seemed  to  disturb  his  slumbers;  he  became  restless;  a 
crawling  sensation  pervaded  his  skin,  and  the  inclina 
tion  to  scratch  was  irresistible.  From  this  time  for 
ward  there  was  no  more  rest  for  the  Doctor.  Some 
two  hours  earlier  than  was  his  custom  he  arose  from 
his  couch,  unrefreshed,  and  in  bad  humor.  After  sick- 
call  he  retired  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  his  peculiar  sen 
sations.  The  fact  soon  became  patent  that  he  was 
literally  covered  with  "body-guard,"  (army  lice.) 
"Hell  and  furies,  Chris.,  look  at  these  blankets,  and  see 
what's  on  them!"  was  his  immediate  orders  to  Chris. 
An  examination  showed  them  full  of  body-lice.  "  Carry 
them  out,  and  burn  the  d — d  things!"  and  out  the 
Doctor  rushed,  in  search  of  the  Quartermaster 

"Brasher,  did  you  know  that  those  blankets  you 
loaned  me  last  night  were  filled  with  lice?" 

"Why,  no;  were  they?"  says    Brasher,   very  inno 
cently.     "Well,  now,  maybe  they  were,  for  my  negro 
has  been  using  them  for  the  last  month." 

The  Doctor's  anger  was  great,  but  he  manfully  swal 
lowed  it,  and  received  the  joke,  and  a  bottle  of  whisky, 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  117 

with  the  best  grace  possible.  There  was  no  man  in  the 
regiment  who  prided  himself  so  much  in  having  neat 
clothing,  and  a  cleanly  person,  as  Doctor  Hazlett,  and 
this,  perhaps,  was  the  only  time  he  had  ever  been  tor 
mented  by  these  "plebian  tormentors." 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


On  the  morning  of  the  16th  of  April,  the  regiment 
broke  camp  on  Bear  Eiver,  re-crossed  it,  and  filed  off 
up  its  western  bank,  until  it  came  to  Bull  Run,  then 
up  Bull  Run  fifteen  miles,  to  Bull's  Mills,  when  it  again 
went  into  camp.  In  coming  up  the  run,  it  was  necessary 
for  the  boys  to  wade  it  nineteen  times.  One  man  in 
particular,  was  compelled  to  take  it,  deep  or  shallow, 
because  of  some  previous  misconduct.  He  was  tied  to 
the  tail-gate  of  a  wagon,  and  thus  trudged  all  day 
" nolens  volens"  Tying  men  behind  wagons,  on  the 
march,  is  a  favorite  way  of  punishing  the  soldier  for 
trivial  offences. 

The  encampment  is  now  in  a  small  valley,  entirely 
shut  in  by  mountains,  excepting  the  narrow  gorge 
through  which  Bull  Run  finds  its  way  to  Bear  River. 
From  where  the  writer  sits,  the  view  is  beautiful.  Many 
of  the  trees  on  the  opposite  mountain  side,  are  clothed 
in  their  summer  garb,  and  many  are  only  putting  on 
their  vestments  of  green,  with  sear  and  yellow  leaves 
exposed  beneath.  Here  is  one  green  as  can  be,  just 
beyond,  is  another  red  with  flowers  of  the  red  bud,  and 
then  another,  as  white  as  the  driven  snow,  with  dog 
wood  blossoms.  ISTow  is  a  spot  of  green  earth,  and  just 
above  it  hangs  a  heavy  mass  of  moss-grown  rock, 
threatening  the  destruction  of  this  magnificent  scenery, 
by  its  speedy  fall.  Flowers  of  many  kinds,  are  bloom- 

(118) 


FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.       119 

ing  everywhere  around.  Sweet  Williams,  Johny-jump- 
up's  and  bine  bells  are  abundant,  and  lend  enchantment 
to  the  view. 

At  the  foot  of  this  mountain  slope,  are  the  white 
tents  of  the  regiments.  The  blue  smoke  of  their  camp 
fires,  is  apparently  climbing  the  mountain,  giving  a  pe 
culiar  shade  to  the  picture.  Soldiers  are  everywhere 
mingled  in  the  scene,  some  are  busy  cooking,  some  sit 
ting  or  lying  down,  some  walking,  and  there  is  an  officer 
on  horseback.  To  the  right  is  the  mill  and  the  dwell 
ing  house  of  the  miller.  Close  by  the  mill,  are  some 
soldiers,  fishing,  and  they  complete  the  scene,  as  pre 
sented  on  the  18th  day  of  April,  1862. 

Some  excitement  was  created  in  camp,  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  19th,  by  the  appearance  of  three  very  indig 
nant  ladies  from  the  country,  seeking  Colonel  Frede 
rick's  head-quarters,  for  the  purpose  of  entering  com 
plaint  against  two  boys  of  the  Fifty-£s"inth,for  creating 
a  disturbance  at  their  house  the  night  before,  and  sleep 
ing  with  two  of  these  ladies  "nolens  volens."  The 
other,  the  mother  of  the  two  younger  ladies,  was  on  the 
hunt  of  a  cavalry  man,  who  was  guilty  of  some  offense 
against  her.  These  boys  were  arrested  and  court-mar 
tialed.  Two  were  convicted  and  one  acquitted.  The 
two  convicted  ones,  were  summarily  drummed  out  of 
service  with  shaved  heads. 

The  Division  broke  up  camp  again  on  the  20th,  and 
moved  out  in  the  rain  and  over  the  muddiest  roads 
imaginable.  They  marched  this  day  twenty  miles, 
without  anything  to  eat  from  the  time  of  starting,  until 
going  into  camp,  and  many  of  the  boys  had  no  supper 
the  night  before. 

At  West  Plains,  some  fifty  of  the  Fifty-Ninth,  were 
detached  to  report  under  Captain  Elliott,  to  the  gun- 


120  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

boat  fleet,  then  laying  at  Cairo,  for  duty.  They  left  the 
regiment  about,  the  25th  of  April,  from  which  time, 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  term  of  service  on 
the  water.  From  West  Plains,  the  regiment  proceeded 
to  Sulphur  Rock,  arriving  there  on  the  8th  of  May. 

On  the  10th  of  May,  the  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois,  Twen 
ty-Second  Indiana,  and  the  Twenty-Fifth  and  Thirty- 
Fifth  Illinois  regiments,  being  detached  from  General 
Curtis's  command,  started  "en  route"  for  Cape  Girar- 
deau,  Missouri.  After  marching  nine  days  out  of  ten, 
these  regiments  arrived  at  the  Cape  on  the  evening  of  the 
20th  of  May;  having  marched  two  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  in  ten  days,  resting  one.  On  the  morning  of  the 
20th,  the  Fifty-Ninth  started  in  the  rear  of  the  column. 
They  were  some  thirty-five  miles  from  the  Cape,  and 
all  very  anxious  to  arrive  at  their  destination.  The 
Twenty-Second  Indiana  was  next  ahead  of  the  Fifty- 
Ninth,  and  equally  as  eager  to  make  the  Cape  that 
day.  It  was  a  hard  march,  and  about  sundown  all  the 
regiments  had  bivouacked,  except  the  Twenty-Second 
and  Fifty-Ninth.  These  pulled  ahead  and  passed  the 
others  some  mile  or  two,  when  the  Twenty-Second 
caved  in.  The  Fifty-Ninth  pushed  on  and  came  out 
nearest  the  Cape,  and  went  into  camp,  exultant  over 
their  grey-hound  perseverance. 

These  regiments,  on  their  arrival  at  Cape  Girardeau, 
presented  a  "  war  worn  "  and  rugged  appearance.  Some 
were  entirely  destitute  of  shoes,  some  had  no  coats, 
some  were  without  hats,  and  many  possessed  only  the 
remnants  of  pantaloons.  Teams  were  immediately  sent 
off  to  town  for  clothing  and  rations,  and  by  the  next 
evening,  the  men  scarcely  knew  themselves  in  their 
new  uniform. 

The  23d  was  a  bright  fair  day,  and  Colonel  Frederick 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  121 

priding  himself  exceedingly  on  the  fine  appearance  of 
his  regiment,  determined  to  exhibit  them  to  the  admir 
ing  gaze  of  the  citizens  of  the  Cape.  At  nine  o'clock, 
they  left  camp  and  marched  to  town,  arriving  in  town 
the  band  struck  up  a  lively  march,  and  the  steady  tramp 
of  the  boys,  to  the  time  of  the  music,  attracted  the  atten 
tion  of  the  multitude.  After  marching  through  several 
streets,  the  regiment  stacked  arms  and  proceeded  by 
companies,  to  the  Paymaster's  office,  to  receive  their 
pay.  After  getting  paid,  the  regiment  fell  into  line  and 
marched  to  the  landing,  where  a  steamboat  was  in  wait 
ing,  to  take  them  onboard.  This  was  the  first  indica 
tions  of  a  ride,  since  leaving  the  old  War  Eagle,  at 
Boonville.  Since  then,  the  regiment  had  marched  twelve 
hundred  miles,  and  now  to  be  transported  was  quite  a 
treat. 

At  five  o'clock,  on  the  23d,  the  boat  left  the  camp  for 
Hamburg  landing.  When  opposite  Paducah,  Governor 
Yates,  of  Illinois,  from  the  guards  of  another  boat,  ad 
dressed  a  few  congratulatory  and  cheering  remarks  to 
the  Fifty -Ninth,  "upon  what  had  transpired  while  they 
were  out  in  the  wilderness."  Arriving  at  Hamburg 
landing  on  the  25th,  the  regiment  went  into  camp  some 
two  miles  from  the  river,  out  towards  Corinth. 

Hamburg  is  the  landing  for  all  of  General  Halleck's 
army  supplies,  at  this  time,  and  the  scene  about  the 
landing,  is  a  lively  one.  Boats  are  coming  up  and  un 
loading  their  cargoes  daily.  Mules,  horses,  wagons, 
rations,  &c.,  are  everywhere  lumbering  up  the  bluffs. 
From  the  boats  the  supplies  are  loaded  into  wagons, 
and  forwarded  to  the  army  now  before  Corinth.  Here 
are  still  seen  many  of  the  effects  of  the  late  battle. 
Here  are  the  bluffs  from  which  it  is  said  many  of  our 
boys  threw  themselves  into  the  river,  to  escape 


122  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

from  the  pursuing  enemy."  "  Brave  boys  were  they." 
Here  the  regiment  was  furnished  with  a  new  outfit  of 
camp  equipage,  wagons  and  horses. 

Corinth  was  now  supposed  to  be  their  destination, 
and  in  confirmation,  the  march  towards  that  place  was 
commenced  on  the  morning  of  the  27th.  The  country 
from  Hamburg  landing  to  Corinth,  is  an  unbroken  wild, 
level  and  swampy.  After  a  march  of  sixteen  miles, 
over  a  recently  constructed  military  road,  the  regiment 
went  into  camp  about  three  miles  to  the  north  of 
Corinth. 

After  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  P.  Sidney  Post  ob 
tained  leave  of  absence,  until  his  wound  should  so  far 
heal,  as  to  permit  of  active  service.  Here  he  rejoined 
the  regiment  as  Colonel  of  the  same,  having  received  a 
commission  during  his  absence.  Lieut.  Colonel  C.  II. 
Frederick,  after  having  commanded  the  regiment  for 
nine  months,  with  honor  to  himself  and  credit  to  the 
regiment,  now  resigned  his  command  to  Colonel  Post, 
and  very  soon,  thereafter,  received  and  accepted  an  ap 
pointment  on  General  JefF.  C.  Davis'  staff. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  the  regiment  moved  into 
position  before  the  works  of  the  enemy,  leaving  the 
tents  standing,  and  the  camp  equipage  all  in  camp. 
Some  skirmishing  was  occurring  occasionally,  between 
our  pickets  and  those  of  the  enemy,  but  no  fighting  of 
any  consequence. 

The  evacuation  of  Corinth,  by  the  rebels,  commenced 
on  the  28th,  so  at  least  it  was  reported  around  camp, 
and  so  it  was  believed  by  several  of  the  Division  com 
manders;  but  General  Halleck  either  discredited  it  or 
did  not  wish  to  encourage  such  an  idea.  General  Pope 
was  satisfied  of  the  fact,  and  solicited  the  privilege  of 
moving  his  command  into  a  position  that  would  pre- 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  123 

vent  their  escape ;  but  was  refused  the  request,  with 
the  reply  that  they  could  not  escape.  Large  trees  in 
elevated  positions,  had  been  selected  and  trimmed,  and 
"look  outs"  stationed  on  the  tops  of  these,  so  that^  the 
movements  of  the  rebels  could  be  seen  in  Corinth. 
These  "look  outs"  confirmed  the  reports  of  the  evacu 
ation.  j^To  efforts  were,  however,  made  to  prevent  it. 
General  Halleck's  army  all  lay  quietly  behind  their 
breastworks,  to  the  north  of  town,  leaving  the  way  for 
the  enemy  to  escape,  entirely  open  ;  whereas,  a  small 
force  could  have  been  sent  to  prevent  it  and  with  Gen 
eral  Halleck's  army,  the  whole  rebel  army  could  have 
been  captured.  This  was  seen  and  believed  by  nearly 
all  the  privates  in  the  army ;  yet  on  the  morning  of 
the  30th,  Corinth  was  in  our  possession  without  a  fight, 
and  nothing  else. 

The  vast  army,  that  General  Halleck  had  been  for 
months  collecting,  from  all  parts  of  the  country  at  an 
enormous  expense,  and  the  great  amount  of  labor  and 
suffering  of  this  vast  army  had  all  been  in  vain — en 
tirely  useless.  Corinth  and  the  whole  territory  left  in 
our  possession,  was  entirely  worthless.  And  all  this 
because  Beauregard  would  not  remain  in  Corinth  until 
Halleck  could  dig  his  way  under  his  fortifications  and 
blow  him  up. 

As  soon  as  the  rebels,  with  all  their  material,  were 
out  of  danger  from  our  troops,  a  forward  movement 
was  ordered.  Great  and  universal  disappointment  was 
manifested  by  the  whole  army  when  the  fact  was  known 
that  the  rebels  were  all  gone.  Many  and  bitter  were 
the  curses  against  General  Halleck.  Every  man  felt 
that  it  was  by  his  incapacity,  want  of  energy,  or  a  good 
feeling  towards  the  rebel  army,  that  they  escaped  so 
easily.  All  confidence  was  lost  in  the  capacity  of  Gen- 


124  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

cral  Ilalleck  as  a  commander,  and  it  has  never  been  re 
stored  by  any  of  his  subsequent  official  ajots.  There 
has  been  two  great  errors  committed  by  some  body  dur 
ing  .this  war.  The  one  was  the  removal  of  Fremont 
from  the  command  at  Springfield,  Mo.,  and  the  other 
is  the  placing  Halleck  in  command  of  the  army  before 
Corinth. 

The  fortifications  about  Corinth  were  found  to  be 
trivial,  in  comparison  to  what  was  expected.  One  line 
of  breast  works  of  weak  construction,  and  nothing1  but 
a  few  slight  embrasures  comprised  the  whole  thing. 
Such  fortifications  one  year  afterwards,  would  have 
been  looked  upon  as  no  impediment  to  the  advance  of 
our  arm}'. 

On  the  30th,  the  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois  again  broke 
camp,  and  moved  out  ten  miles  below  Corinth,  where 
they  awaited  the  reconstruction  of  a  bridge,  which  the 
rebels  had  burned.  Cannonading  is  occasionally  heard 
in  the  distance,  which  indicates  that  our  advance  is 
skirmishing  with  the  rear  of  the  flying  enemy.  Camp 
is  pitched  near  Boonville,  Miss.,  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  2d  of  June,  the  regiment  moves  out  on  a  scout, 
leaving  every  thing  but  their  blankets  and  haversacks 
in  camp.  Those  unable  to  march  are  left  in  charge  of 
an  officer,  to  guard  the  camp,  and  the  sick  are  left  in 
the  care  of  the  Hospital  Steward.  The  regiment  pur 
sued  the  enemy  about  twenty  miles  without  overtaking 
them,  and  then  returned  to  camp.  It  now  lay  in  camp 
ten  days  without  molestation.  The  enemy  had  fled  be 
yond  pursuit  for  the  time  being,  but  was  still  in  hearing 
distance  of  our  scouts,  and  the  anticipation  of  another 
move  was  daily  increasing.  Instead  of  pursuing  the 
enemy,  the  regiment  returned  to  within  two  miles  of 
Corinth,  on  the  12th,  and  went  into  regular  camp  on 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  125 

Clear  Creek.  There  having  been  no  rain  for  two  weeks, 
the  roads  were  now  very  dusty,  and  the  marching  very 
disagreeable ;  consequently  it  was  a  pleasant  thing  to 
go  into  camp  on  the  shady  banks  of  a  clear  stream  of 
running  water. 

This  weather  is  delightful;  only  when  the  sun  is  at 
the  meridian,  then  it  is  a  little  too  hot  for  comfort.  The 
early  morning  in  camp  is  delightful,  especially.  The 
sun  is  just  peeping  up  through  the  tree-tops.  The  birds 
are  singing  their  early  matins,  before  the  smoke  of 
camp  becomes  too  thick  for  their  vocal  organs.  The 
mules  are  adding  their  musical  braying  for  their  feed 
of  dry  oats,  and  the  drivers  are  aiding  the  mules  with 
their  morning  notes  of  universal  cursing.  To  arise 
these  mornings  and  witness  all  this,  is  charming. 

The  boys  are  now  having  easy,  good  times.  They 
have  plenty  of  leisure  to  lay  in  the  shade,  and  write 
letters  to  their  friends  at  home.  Policing  of  camp 
grounds  in  the  morning,  is  all  that  is  required  of  them, 
and  this  is  usually  done  by  extra-duty  men.  These  are 
lazy  fellows  who  will  not  get  up  in  the  morning  in  time 
to  answer  to  their  names  at  roll  call.  As  a  punishment, 
they  are  used  as  scavengers  for  the  benefit  of  the  indus 
trious  ones. 

There  is  considerable  sickness  amongst  the  men  at 
this  time,  owing,  perhaps,  to  the  hot,  dry  weather,  and 
bad  water  of  this  region.  There  are  some  nice  springs 
along  Clear  Creek,  but  as  a  general  thing,  the  only 
drinking  water  the  men  have  had  since  leaving  the 
Tennessee  River,  has  been  obtained  from  the  marshes 
which  here  abound.  All  this  region  of  country  around 
Corinth,  is  a  low,  swampy,  worthless  marsh.  Why,  in 
the  name  of  common  sense,  the  rebel  army  was  ever 
molested  in  the  peaceable  possession  of  Corinth  is  more 


126  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

than  can  now  be  comprehended.  Why  not  have  left 
them  here;  that  they  might  starve,  or  sicken  and  die 
after  their  own  liking. 

There  are  some  very  noisy  fellows  in  camp,  and  it 
seems  as  though  they  are  always  making  the  most 
noise  when  respect  for  others  should  keep  them  most 
quiet.  There  are  two  good  brass  bands  in  the  immedi 
ate  neighborhood  of  our  regiment,  which  frequently 
dispense  most  delightful  music — but  many  times  these 
rude  fellows  are  like  the  dog  in  the  manger,  they  will 
neither  listen  themselves,  or  let  any  one  else  enjoy  the 
music.  They  are  just  the  kind  of  men  for  an  army, 
though — for  a  "man  who  has  no  music  in  his  soul,  is 
fit  for  treasons,  stratagems  and  spoils." 

The  boys  have  many  ways  of  amusing  themselves 
while  laying  in  camp,  and  some  of  these  they  put  into 
practice  here.  The  most  profitable  and  interesting  of 
all  others,  is  the  attendance  on  the  prayer  meetings,  the 
Chaplain  is  now  conducting  in  the  regiment.  The  Ilev. 
Shoemate  has  been  with  the  regiment  since  its  organi 
zation,  and  has  preached  some  three  times  since  leaving 
Boonville,  and  is  now  having  the  first  prayer  meetings. 
These  sermons  and  meetings  have  only  cost  the  gov 
ernment  the  moderate  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  each.  An  active,  energetic  and  Christian  Chap 
lain  is  of  invaluable  service  to  the  army,  but  an  uncon 
verted  Chaplain  is  a  nuisance.  If  there  is  any  place  on 
God's  fair  earth,  where  wickedness  "stalketh  abroad 
in  daylight,"  it  is  in  the  army.  It  is  lamentable  to 
hear  and  see  the  profanity  and  wickedness  which  every 
where  and  all  the  time  meets  the  ear  and  eye.  Ninety- 
nine  men  out  of  every  hundred  are  profane  swearers. 
Gambling  is  not  quite  so  universal,  yet  there  are  hun 
dreds  of  young  men  who  devote  all  their  leisure  time 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  127 

to  this  nefarious  practice.  Walk  through  camp  at 
almost  any  hour,  and  you  will  see  squads  of  young  men 
engaged  in  risking  their  money  and  their  souls  on  the 
chance  throw  of  the  die.  This  game  is  called  "  chuck- 
a-luck."  A  faithful,  working  Christian  Chaplain,  would, 
in  a  great  measure,  control  these  practices  among  the 
young  men  of  the  army. 

While  at  Cross  Timbers,  in  Arkansas,  Captain  Kelly, 
of  company  F,  resigned  his  commission,  on  account  of 
ill  health,  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Illinois.  Cap 
tain  Kelly  was  invariably  inclined  to  be  kind  and  gen 
erous  towards  his  men,  even  to  the  sacrifice  of  his  own 
comfort,  and  his  departure  was  regretted  by  all.  As  a 
testimony  of  the  regard  and  esteem  which  the  offi 
cers  of  the  regiment  had  for  Captain  Kelly,  the  follow 
ing  "expression"  was  handed  to  him  by  the  Major, 
whose  name  heads  the  list  of  signers : 

"We,  the  officers  of  the  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois  Volun 
teer  Regiment,  take  this  method  of  expressing  our  es 
teem  of  Captain  S.  W.  Kelly,  as  an  officer  and  as  a 
gentleman.  In  camps  and  on  the  march,  as  his  health 
and  strength  permitted,  his  duties  were  always  promptly 
and  faithfully  attended  to.  On  the  battle  field  he  was 
firm  and  unflinching.  In  retiring  to  private  life,  he 
bears  with  him  our  best  wishes."  Signed  J.  C.  Win 
ters,  and  by  twenty  other  officers  of  the  regiment. 

On  the  resignation  of  Captain  Kelly,  the  command 
of  company  F  devolved  on  Lieutenant  John  Kelly. 
The  Lieutenant  had  faithfully  filled  the  position  from 
that  time  until  now,  and  was  justly  entitled  to  a  com.- 
mission  as  Captain  of  the  company.  This,  however,  he- 
failed  to  receive.  Lieutenant  Curry,  of  company  C,  of 
the  same  regiment,  obtained  the  commission,  and  took 
command  of  the  company  after  its  arrival  at  Jacinto, 


123       FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Miss.  By  the  resignation  of  Captain  Taylor,  of  com 
pany  H,  Lieutenant  A.  Anthony,  was  left  in  command 
of  that  company.  More  fortunate  than  Lieutenant 
Kelly,  he  subsequently  obtained  a  Captain's  commission 
and  commanded  the  company  as  such,  until  ill  health 
compelled  him  also  to  resign. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  the  regiment  received  orders  to 
move  out  towards  Jacinto,  Miss.,  without  tents  or  bag 
gage,  and  to  leave  the  sick,  cripples  and  convalescents 
behind.  It  marched  some  twenty  miles  and  bivouacked 
within  two  or  three  miles  of  Jacinto.  Here  they  re 
mained  until  the  28th.  On  the  26th,  orders  were  re 
ceived  at  camp  to  remove  the  sick  to  General  Field  hos 
pital  at  Corinth,  and  bring  forward  the  tents  and  other 
camp  equipage  to  the  regiment.  This  was  accomplished 
in  good  order;  the  trains  reporting  to  the  regiment 
about  eleven  o'clock,  on  the  28th.  While  laying  in 
camp,  sickness  had  increased  considerably,  and  now 
there  was  quite  a  number  to  be  left  at  hospital.  When 
the  train  arrived  at  the  regiment,  it  was  under  march 
ing  orders  and  making  preparations  to  move.  Kations 
were  being  distributed  to  the  men,  and  the  Surgeons 
were  drawing  a  supply  of  medicines  and  other  hospital 
stores  for  their  respective  regiments.  All  the  indica 
tions  were  that  a  long  and  rapid  march  was  in  contem 
plation,  or  else  an  engagement  with  the  enemy.  Old 
soldiers  are  not  often  deceived  in  their  prognosis. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 


At  three  o'clock  of  the  28th,  the  regiment  again 
started  on  the  march.  Rumor  had  it  that  the  destina 
tion  was  Holly  Springs,  which  is  thirty-five  miles  south 
of  Memphis.  The  roads  were  now  in  good  condition. 
The  dust  was  nicely  settled  by  a  previous  rain,  and  the 
weather  was  not  so  excessively  hot  as  it  had  been  a  few 
days  before.  The  men  were  well  rested,  and  in  good 
health  and  spirits.  The  teams  were  in  good  condition, 
and  all  seemed  propitious  for  a  successful  campaign. 

Passing  through  Jacinto,  towards  Rienzi,  the  regi 
ment  made  eight  miles,  and  wrent  into  camp.  The 
next  morning,  starting  early,  it  made  fifteen  miles,  and 
went  into  camp  one-half  mile  east  of  the  town  of 
Ripley. 

This  is  quite  a  pretty  town,  of,  perhaps  one  thousand 
inhabitants.  It  is  the  county  town  of  Tippah  County, 
Mississippi,  and  is  prettily  situated  in  the  best  portion 
of  the  country  the  regiment  had  visited.  This  was  Sun 
day,  and  the  citizens  were  all  at  church  when  our  army 
made  its  appearance.  The  minister  was  reading  a  hymn 
when  our  advance  was  first  descried,  and  some  one  at 
the  church  door  sang  out,  the  "Yankees  are  coming!" 
It  may  be  supposed  that  this  created  some  alarm — per 
haps  as  much  as  the  cry  of  fire  would  have  done.  The 
congregation  rushed  for  the  door,  and,  as  fast  as  they 
could  get  out  of  the  house,  skedaddled — some  for  their 
(9)  (129) 


130  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

homes,  but  most  of  them  for  the  timber,  on  double- 
quick.  It  can  easily  be  believed  that  there  was  some 
tall  running  about  this  time.  They  were  taken  entirely 
by  surprise.  The  rebel  soldiers  that  had  been  there,  a 
few  days  before,  were  all  gone  to  some  other  point,  and 
their  withdrawal  had  caused  the  citizens  to  suppose 
that  the  town  of  Bipley  was  in  perfect  security ;  but 
now,  of  course,  they  expected,  if  caught,  to  be  roasted, 
and  eaten  by  the  cannibal  Yankees.  Our  army,  how 
ever,  marched  through  the  town  in  perfect  good  order, 
molesting  no  one,  nor  touching  a  thing  belonging  to 
any  one. 

A  few  negroes,  three  or  four  old  men,  and  some  chil 
dren,  were  all  that  could  be  seen  in  the  streets,  as  our 
soldiers  passed. 

"Yah,  yah,  yah;  Massa  said  you  'uns  would  neber 
come  dis  here  way — yah,  yah."  Thus  said  an  old 
darkey,  as  we  passed  him.  "He  was  mistaken  dat 
time,  for  here  you  is,  sure  'nough — yah,  yah." 

"Where  is  your  master  now?"  asked  one  of  our 
boys. 

"  He's  done  gone.  "Wen  you  'uns  was  seen  comin', 
he  broke  for  de  brush — yah,  yah." 

Monday  being  muster  day,  the  army  lay  in  camp 
until  Tuesday  morning,  to  allow  time  for  making  up 
the  muster-rolls. 

The  women,  and  some  of  the  male  citizens,  had  re 
turned  to  their  homes,  as  soon  as  they  ascertained  that 
the  Yankees  were  not  particularly  fond  of  roasted 
rebels,  and  many  of  the  officers  became  domesticated  at 
their  houses.  At  one  of  these  houses  an  officer  was 
talking  with  the  lady,  in  the  parlor,  when  a  private 
stepped  to  the  door,  to  make  some  inquiry.  There  was 
in  the  parlor  at  the  time,  quite  a  pretty,  smart-looking 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  131 

girl,  ten  or  twelve  years  old,  who  was  attentively  listen 
ing  to  the  conversation.  "When  the  soldier  came  to  the 
door,  the  mother  pointed  towards  him,  and  said  to  the 
girl: 

"  Look  there,  Eliza.     There's  a  Yankee.     You  was 
just  asking  what  kind  of  an  animal  they  were." 

The  girl  looked  at  the  soldier  with  astonishment,  for 
a  second,  then,  turning  to  her  mother,  said: 

"Why,  mother,  that's  not  a  Yankee;  that's  a  man" 
This  poor  girl  had  expected  to  see  a  wild  animal  of 
some  kind.  She  had  no  idea  that  the  Yankees  were 
men.  This  is  in  kind  with  the  ignorance  of  a  young 
woman,  whose  husband  was  in  the  rebel  army.  She 
was,  herself,  a  most  rabid  secesh.  Some  of  our  boys 
were  telling  her  of  the  victories  they  had  gained  over 
the  rebels,  particularly  the  one  at  Pea  Ridge,  in  Arkan 
sas.  "  0,  yes,"  said  she,  "you  whipped  us  there;  but 
you  never  could  have  done  it  if  it  had'nt  been  for  the 
gun-boats."  Gun-boats  at  Pea  Ridge,  more  than  ninety 
miles  from  water!  What  an  idea!  Ignorance  is  not 
always  bliss. 

Tuesday  morning,  the  army  again  moved  out,  passing 
back  through  Ripley,  and  on  towards  Holly  Springs. 
Here  Colonel  P.  Sidney  Post  came  very  near  being 
captured.  Many  of  the  young  "bloods"  of  the  army 
were  in  the  habit  of  leaving  their  commands,  and  tak 
ing  up  their  quarters  at  citizens'  houses  whenever  an 
opportunity  of  the  kind  offered,  on  the  march,  or  while 
in  camp.  Colonel  Post  had  here  formed  the  acquaint 
ance  of  some  secesh  ladies,  and  enjoyed  himself  hugely 
in  their  society.  When  the  regiment  left  town,  he  re 
mained  behind  a  short  time  to  have  a  parting  word  with 
the  sweet  charmers,  and  would,  perhaps,  have  remained 
some  time  longer  had  not  an  acquaintance  rode  to  the 


132  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

door,  and  urged  him  to  go  on  with  the  command.  The 
plot  laid  to  capture  him  was  just  completed  as  he  rode 
away.  These  fair  ladies  had  made  arrangements  with 
some  half-dozen  rebels  to  come  to  the  house,  and  lay  in 
wait,  until  notified  of  the  opportune  moment  for  their 
purpose.  One  of  these  ladies  left  the  presence  of  the 
Colonel  for  that  object,  just  as  the  Colonel  was  urged 
to  go  to  his  command.  Five  minutes  later,  and  he 
would  have  been  a  prisoner. 

Soon  after  leaving  town,  two  of  our  boys,  who  were 
some  distance  in  the  rear  of  the  regiment,  on  account 
of  ill  health,  were  unexpectedly  ordered  to  halt.  On 
looking  around,  they  discovered  some  half-dozen  guer 
rillas  by  the  roadside,  with  guns  pointing  toward  them, 
in  threatening  attitude.  "Halt!  you  damned  Yankee 
sons-of-bitches,  or  we'll  blow  your  brains  out,"  was  the 
order  of  the  rebs.  The  boys  were  in  a  ravine,  with  hills 
in  front  and  rear;  and,  just  at  this  time,  there  were 
none  of  our  men  in  sight.  There  was  no  alternative 
but  to  surrender.  This  they  did,  with  as  good  grace  as 
possible.  They  were  taken  some  distance  from  the 
road,  and  whatever  of  value  they  had  was  taken  from 
them.  A  consultation  was  then  held  among  the  cap 
tors,  to  determine  whether  these  two  "  Yanks"  should 
be  shot  on  the  "  spot,"  or  taken  to  General  Price,  who 
was  then  at  Tupelo.  One  or  two  were  for  shooting 
them  at  once,  and  thus  save  trouble;  but  the  majority 
opposed  it,  and  they  were  marched  off  in  a  southerly 
direction.  They  marched  until  nearly  night,  when 
they  came  to  an  encampment  of  rebels,  near  some 
small  town,  the  name  of  which  they  did  not  learn. 
Here  they  were  placed  in  an  old  deserted  house,  to 
gether  with  a  number  of  other  prisoners. 

The  names  of  these  two  men  were  Joseph  H.  Sullivan 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  133 

and  Jesse  L.  McHatton.  They  were  soon  joined  by 
Moses  T.  Anderson,  captured  about  tbe  same  time,  and 
in  tbe  same  manner.  These  three  belonged  to  the 
Fifty-Ninth  Regiment.  The  other  prisoners  were  from 
different  regiments.  There  was  one  prisoner  there  who 
had  been  captured  at  the  siege  of  Corinth.  He  was 
Chaplain  to  some  regiment,  and  was  now  under  sen 
tence  of  death,  for  being  a  spy.  He  was  a  Southern 
man,  with  Union  sentiments,  and  hence  the  supposition 
that  he  was  a  spy  for  the  Union  army.  He  had  just 
had  his  court-martial,  and  the  sentence  was  to  be  put  in 
execution  on  the  morrow.  During  the  evening  he  told 
his  story  to  the  boys  of  the  Fifty-Ninth,  and  at  once 
enlisted  their  sympathies  in  his  behalf.  A  plan  was 
soon  devised,  and  suggested  by  Joseph  Sullivan,  by 
which  he,  perhaps,  might  make  his  escape.  The  night 
happened  to  be  most  favorable,  and  the  plan  succeeded 
admirably.  There  were  no  lights  about  the  building, 
consequently  all  was  in  darkness  as  soon  as  the  day 
light  disappeared.  Before  that  time,  however,  Joseph 
Sullivan  had  noticed  a  comparatively  loose  board  in  the 
floor,  and  that  the  house  was  considerably  raised  from 
the  ground,  by  being  set  on  blocks  at  the  corners. 

The  plan  then  was,  that  the  Chaplain  should  hold 
prayer-meeting,  about  nine  or  ten  o'clock,  and,  while 
the  praying  and  singing  was  attracting  the  attention  of 
the  guards,  the  board  in  the  floor  should  be  taken  up, 
and  the  Chaplain  pass  through  under  the  floor,  and 
there  remain  until  he  should  hear  a  slight  thumping  on 
the  floor  above  him,  when  he  should  crawl  out  at  the 
north-west  corner,  and  make  his  escape.  The  Chap 
lain  gave  out  the  hymn  from  memory,  offered  up  a 
most  excellent  and  fervent  prayer,  asking  forgiveness 
on  his  to-morrow's  executioners,  and  pardon  for  the 


134  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

whole  rebel  Confederacy,  and  praying  that  they  might 
soon  see  the  error  of  their  ways,  and  return  to  their  al 
legiance,  etc.  He  then  gave  out  another  hymn,  and, 
while  it  was  being  sung,  slipped  through  the  opening 
to  the  ground  beneath  the  floor.  The  board  was  care 
fully  replaced,  and  all  soon  became  quiet.  In  about  an 
hour  Joseph  Sullivan  and  McIIatton,  leaving  Anderson 
to  give  the  signal  on  the  floor,  used  some  strategy  to 
attract  the  attention  of  the  guard,  so  that  the  Chaplain 
had  an  opportunity  to  pass  out  undiscovered.  It  is  not 
known  tha-t  he  was  ever  re-captured.  The  supposition 
is  that  he  made  good  his  escape,  and  is  now  with  his 
friends. 

The  next  morning  the  prisoners  were  started  on  for 
Tupelo.  Arriving  at  Price's  head-quarters,  they  were 
ordered  to  Mobile;  from  Mobile  they  were  sent  to  Ma- 
con,  Georgia,  where  they  were  kept  until  the  8th  of 
October,  when  they  were  shipped  to  Richmond,  Vir 
ginia,  for  exchange. 

AVhile  at  Macon,  Joseph  Sullivan  was  granted  the 
privilege  of  the  city,  that  he  might  work  at  his  trade. 
He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  made  shoes  for  the 
benefit  of  the  sick  in  hospital.  The  money  he  received 
for  his  work  he  expended  for  quinine,  and  other  neces 
saries,  for  the  sick  prisoners.  In  this  way  he  accom 
plished  a  great  amount  of  good,  and  will  ever  be  re 
membered  by  those  thus  benefitted  with  gratitude. 
These  three  men  were  reasonably  well  treated  while 
prisoners,  and  returned,  September  8,  1864,  to  their  old 
regiment,  in  good  health. 

The  march  of  the  regiment  was  continued,  in  the  di 
rection  of  Holly  Springs,  until  late  in  the  evening. 
Reveille  at  three,  and  march  at  five  o'clock,  is  the  order 
for  the  following  morning.  True  to  orders,  at  five 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  135 

o'clock  the  regiment  is  on  the  move.  The  march  is 
continued  all  day,  and  until  one  o'clock  at  night.  The 
men  are  very  tired,  and  take  no  time  to  prepare  coffee, 
but  stretch  themselves  on  the  ground,  and  go  to  sleep. 
At  four  o'clock  orders  came  to  fall  in.  Most  of  the  men 
are  yet  asleep,  but  the  order  must  be  obeyed,  and  slowly 
they  fall  into  ranks.  ~No  supper,  no  breakfast,  and  yet 
must  march.  '  Tis  hard,  but  "  Forward,  march ! "  The 
column  moves  out,  and  takes  the  back  track.  The 
enemy  is  threatening  the  rear,  and  will  cut  us  off  from 
our  supplies.  Hungry  and  weary,  the  men  drag  the 
march  along  all  day,  and  go  into  bivouac  ready  to  pull 
out  again  at  a  moment's  notice.  We  are  now  not  far 
from  Rienzi,  having  made  over  sixty  miles  since  the 
morning  of  the  1st.  The  men  are  on  less  than  half  ra 
tions,  and  the  teams  without  forage.  Many  of  the 
horses  were  without  feed  for  forty-eight  hours,  and 
many  of  the  men,  for  twenty-four  hours,  did  not  have 
a  mouthful  of  nourishment.  This  is  the  heaviest 
marching  the  regiment  has  ever  done. 

On  the  4th  the  army  went  into  camp  at  Jacinto,  the 
Fifty-Ninth  camping  about  two  miles  from  town.  Al 
though  the  three  days'  marching  had  been  very  trying 
on  the  nerve  and  muscle  of  the  men,  the  regiment  came 
into  camp  at  Jacinto  in  good  condition.  The  health  of 
the  regiment  was  never  better.  There  were  very  few 
who  had  failed  to  keep  their  places  in  the  ranks.  One 
man  had  been  severely  wounded  by  the  upsetting  of  a 
wagon.  He  was  riding  on  the  wagon,  asleep,  when 
the  driver,  in  going  down  a  hill,  upset  his  wagon, 
throwing  the  sleeper  from  the  comfortable  quarters  he 
was  enjoying  to  the  earth.  An  axe  being  his  com 
panion  o.n  the  wagon,  struck  his  foot  as  he  fell,  making 
a  severe  wound. 


CHAPTER  XIX 


Jacinto  is  a  pretty  little  town,  twenty-five  miles  south 
of  Corinth,  in  Nishamingo  County,  and  is  situated  in  a 
cultivated  part  of  the  country.  As  a  general  thing, 
this  is  an  uncultivated  region.  From  Corinth  through 
Bipley  to  within  a  few  miles  of  Holly  Springs,  wher 
ever  the  regiment  has  marched,  the  country  is  compar 
atively  a  wilderness.  In  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
Bienzi,  Jacinto  and  Ripley,  there  are  some  small  plan 
tations  under  ordinary  good  cultivation.  The  land  is 
poor  and  rather  unproductive,  yielding  but  small  com 
pensation  for  the  labor  required  to  till  it.  The  ap 
pearances  of  the  few  women  and  children  which  are 
seen  along  the  march,  indicates  the  prevalence  of  agues 
and  fevers  during  the  spring  and  fall  seasons  of  the 
year,  and  the  many  swamps  and  marshes  seen  in  all 
directions,  confirm  the  supposition  that  it  is  a  very  un 
healthy  country.  The  country  around  Jacinto  and  the 
other  little  towns  is  more  elevated  and  broken,  and  af 
fords  some  assurance  of  health.  Jacinto  is  in  a  com 
paratively  healthy  location,  and  should  the  army  re 
main  here  during  the  heat  of  summer,  it  may  enjoy 
good  health.  The  water  is  obtained  from  springs,  and 
is  much  more  healthy  than  the  brackish  water  of  the 
swamps,  which  the  soldier  was  compelled  to  drink 
while  on  the  march. 

It  is  now  probable  that  active  operations  will  be  sus- 

(136) 


FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.       137 

pendcd  till  the  hot  season  is  over,  and  the  troops  are 
busy  making  preparations  to  enjoy  a  recuperative  sea 
son  in  camp.  They  a-re  determined  to  have  camp  as 
attracting  as  possible,  and  as  comfortable  as  green 
shades  and  good  bunks  can  make  it.  The  camp  grounds 
of  the  Fifty-Ninth  has  been  judiciously  selected  on  one 
of  the  small  pine  ridges  which  skirt  the  streams  of  this 
region,  and  is  convenient  to  both  fence  rails  and  water. 
Fence  rails  make  most  excellent  fires  for  cooking  and 
the  cool  spring  water  is  a  luxury  much  to  be  prized 
during  the  hot  days  of  this  season  of  the  year.  The 
small  pine  shrubbery  affords  excellent  material  for  the 
construction  of  shades  and  arbors  to  protect  against  the 
scorching  rays  of  the  sun.  Some  of  the  companies  are 
taking  great  pains  in  the  construction  of  arbors  adjoin 
ing  their  tents.  Company  K  has  excelled  all  the  others 
in  artistic  skill  and  ingenuity  in  the  construction  of 
these  shades.  All  over  camp  these  bowers  are  so  con 
structed  as  to  effectually  shield  from  the  scorching  rays 
of  Old  Sol,  and  groups  of  hardy  looking  soldiers  are 
now  to  be  seen  engaged  in  every  conceivable  pastime, 
unconscious  of  the  oppressive  heat  outside.  Some  are 
discussing  the  conservative  policy  of  General  Halleck 
in  pittying  the  rebels — guarding  their  property  from 
molestation  by  our  soldiers  while  on  the  march  and 
while  laying  in  camp,  and  in  feeding  the  families  of 
those  in  arms  against  us  from  our  scant  rations. 

A  squad  of  men  has  just  left  camp  to  go  a  mile  out, 
for  the  purpose  of  guarding  a  rebel  family  against  in 
trusion  by  any  of  the  soldiers.  This,  the  majority  of 
the  disputants  are  opposed  to,  while  some  are  in  favor 
of  the  policy.  Some  of  these  boys  have  been  compelled 
very  much  against  their  will,  to  stop  while  on  the  march, 
and  stand  guard  at  the  gate  of  some  fine  mansion,  whose 


138  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

owner  was  in  the  rebel  army,  while  the  families  occu 
pying  the  log  houses  along  the  road  were  left  to  the 
mercy  of  every  straggler  in  the  army.  This  is  looked 
upon  by  those  opposed  to  the  policy  as  great  injustice. 

Some  are  engaged  in  writing  letters  to  their  friends 
at  home,  and  some  in  playing  cards,  some  are  reading, 
and  here  is  a  squad  attracted  by  the  exciting  game  of 
chuck-a-luck.  Some  are  rubbing  up  their  muskets  and 
others  are  stretched  upon  their  beds  of  pine,  taking  a 
nap.  This  will  continue  to  be  the  daily  camp  scene 
until  orders  come  to  move  out  again. 

Soon  after  coming  into  camp,  Dr.  II.  J.  Maynard  re 
ported  from  Cassville,  Mo.,  and  again  took  charge  of 
the  sick.  Dr.  Hazlett  assumed  the  duties  of  Brigade 
Surgeon,  and  located  himself  at  Jacinto.  As  is  always 
the  case,  while  laying  in  camp,  sickness  now  increases, 
so  that  a  large  hospital  tent  is  required  to  shelter  the 
patients.  This  field  hospital  is  still  continued  at  Cor 
inth,  and  orders  are  to  send  all  serious  cases  up  there 
for  treatment.  The  indications  also  point  towards  an 
early  move,  and  it  is  not  policy  to  have  many  sick  men 
with  the  regiment. 

There  had  been  an  order  for  several  days,  to  be  ready 
to  move  at  a  moment's  notice,  but  no  move  was  made 
until  the  4th  of  August.  On  the  4th,  the  regiment 
started  out  on  a  scout,  as  was  supposed,  leaving  the 
camp  standing,  as  is  usual  on  such  occasions.  The  4th 
of  August  was,  perhaps,  the  hottest  day  of  the  season, 
and  the  men  suffered  excessively  from  the  heat.  Quite 
a  number  fell  from  the  ranks  with  "sun-stroke,"  and 
some  expired  from  its  effects.  ISTone  of  the  Fifty-Ninth 
died,  but  two  or  three  never  fully  recovered  from  its 
impression. 

On  the  6th,  the  Acting  Quartermaster,  Lieutenant  H. 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  139 

W.  Hall,  received  orders  to  break  up  camp,  and  move 
his  train  to  luka,  Miss.,  some  twenty  miles  farther  east. 
The  sick  were  all  sent  to  general  field  hospital,  and 
about  noon  the  train  moved  out.  Passing  through  Ja- 
cinto,  it  continued  to  move  until  nine  o'clock,  when  it 
overtook  the  regiment,  in  bivouac,  some  six  miles  from 
luka.  The  regiment  had  thus  far  returned  from  its' 
expedition,  and  bivouaced  for  the  train  to  come  up,  so 
as  to  be  safely  escorted  to  luka.  There  were  many 
guerrillas  through  the  country,  and  it  was  unsafe  to 
send  the  train  without  a  strong  guard.  Early  in  the 
morning  the  march  was  continued  to  luka,  where  the 
regiment  again  went  into  regular  camp. 

The  regimental  Sutler  did  not  come  through  with  the 
train,  but  waited  until  the  next  day.  When  coming 
through,  on  the  8th,  with  three  wagons  loaded  with 
goods,  and  six  splendid  mules  to  each  wagon,  the  guer 
rillas  came  upon  him  about  five  miles  from  luka,  and 
captured  two  wagons  and  mules  with  their  drivers,  and 
also  one  man  belonging  to  the  ranks  in  the  regiment. 
The  Sutler,  who  was  on  horseback,  made  his  escape,  as 
did  also  one  of  the  wagons.  After  taking  as  many  of 
the  goods  as  they  could  carry  away  with  them,  they  set 
fire  to  the  wagons  and  burned  them.  The  mules  and 
prisoners  were  taken  to  Tupelo.  Besides  the  mules  and 
wagons,  the  Sutler  lost  about  two  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  goods.  The  prisoners  were  taken  to  General 
Price.  Two  of  them  being  citizens,  one  the  driver  and 
the  other  the  Sutler's  clerk,  were  released  on  parole  of 
honor.  The  soldier,  William  Workman,  of  company 
F,  was  released  by  taking  an  oath  of  pseudo  alliance  to 
the  Confederate  government. 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  these  guerrillas  had 
committed  this  outrage,  a  squad  of  cavalry  was  started 


140  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

in  pursuit,  but  too  late  to  overtake  them.  A  short  dis 
tance  from  where  the  wagons  were  burned,  the  rebels 
had  taken  breakfast  that  morning,  and  perhaps  con 
cealed  themselves  there  the  night  before.  The  family 
at  first  denied  any  knowledge  of  the  affair,  but  in  look- 
:ng  around  some  of  the  Sutler's  goods  were  discovered, 
rhis  settled  the  matter  to  the  satisfaction  of  our  boys, 
and  they  immediately  ordered  the  family  to  pack  up 
such  things  as  they  wished  to  save  from  the  flames,  for 
their  house  should  never  harbor  any  more  guerrillas. 
Soon  the  house  was  emptied  of  its  contents,  the  Sutler's 
goods  were  retaken,  and  the  house  shared  the  fate  of 
the  wagons — nothing  was  left  but  the  ashes. 

The  regiment  on  leaving  Jacinto,  marched  in  a  south 
ern  direction  about  twenty-five  miles,  to  a  place  called 
Sand  Springs.  A  large  cotton  factory  and  dry  goods 
establishment  was  in  operation  there,  and  a  camp  of 
three  or  four  hundred  rebels  in  the  vicinity.  It  was  for 
the  purpose  of  breaking  up  this  establishment  that  the 
expedition  was  undertaken.  Several  regiments  were 
detailed  from  the  different  brigades  for  that  purpose, 
and  General  Robert  Mitchell  was  in  command.  The 
first  night  out,  the  command  bivouaced  on  an  old  rebel's 
plantation,  some  fifteen  miles  south  of  Jacinto.  In  the 
evening,  General  Mitchell,  with  his  staff",  rode  forward 
in  advance  of  the  column  to  this  old  planter's  house, 
and  was  most  cordially  received  and  welcomed  by  the 
old  gentlemen,  with  true  southern  hospitality.  The 
General  soon  discovered  which  way  the  wind  blew  with 
the  old  man,  and  encouraged  him  in  his  delusion.  He 
informed  the  planter  that  he  was  General  Price,  of 
the  Confederate  army,  and  that  he  wished  to  camp 
some  of  his  boys  near  by,  and  take  up  his  own  quarters 
at  his  house  for  the  night.  The  old  gentleman  was 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  141 

highly  delighted,  and  generously  proffered  his  house 
and  premises  for  the  accommodation  of  General  Price. 
By  this  time  it  had  become  the  dusk  of  the  evening, 
and  our  boys  were  coming  into  camp  in  good  order. 
General  Mitchell  detained  the  old  planter  in  conversa 
tion  so  closely  that  he  had  no  opportunity  to  discover 
the  difference  between  our  boys  and  his  friends,  the 
rebels.  After  the  General  had  pumped  this  old  rebel 
to  his  entire  satisfaction,  he  retired — but  before  doing 
so,  had  a  guard  placed  around  the  house,  with  orders  to 
let  no  one  out  or  in.  Before  going  to  bed  the  old  plan 
ter  attempted  to  pass  the  guard,  but  was  not  allowed 
to  do  so.  He  thought  rather  strange  of  the  proceed 
ings,  but  submitted  with  a  good  grace,  and  retired  to 
dream  of  the  honor  to  his  house  in  the  entertainment 
of  the  great  General  Price,  of  the  Confederate  States 
army. 

He  was  up  in  the  morning  early,  and  again  attempted 
to  pass  the  guard,  with  no  better  success,  however.  It 
was  now  becoming  light,  and  the  uniform  of  the  sol 
diers  at  the  door  attracted  his  attention.  His  suspi 
cions  were  aroused. 

"Are  you  a  Confederate  soldier?"  said  he  to  the 
guard. 

"No,  sir  ee,"  replied  the  soldier. 

"What  are  you,  then?"  said  the  planter,  "and  how 
came  you  here?" 

"  I  am  a  Union  soldier,  and  am  here  by  the  order  of 
General  Mitchell." 

""Who  is  General  Mitchell,  and  where  is  he?"  asked 
the  planter,  eagerly. 

"  General  Mitchell  commands  these  regiments  out 
here  in  your  fields,  and  is  now  in  your  house." 


142        FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

"And  where  are  the  soldiers  of  General  Price?"  in 
quired  the  old  gentleman. 

"  To  hell,  for  all  1  know,"  replied  the  soldier,  who, 
not  understanding  the  matter,  turned  away  and  walked 
his  beat. 

The  old  man  re-entered  his  room,  wondering  how  it 
all  happened.  Pretty  soon  General  Mitchell  made  his 
appearance,  and  greeted  the  planter  with  a  pleasant 
"good  morning." 

"How  is  it,  General,  that  I  see  so  many  Union  sol 
diers  out  here?" 

"  Those  are  my  boys  out  there,"  says  the  General, 
"and  I  am  General  Mitchell  of  the  Union  army,  and 
not  General  Price,  as  you  was  glad  to  believe  last  night. 
It  is  now  time  I  was  on  the  move,  and  you  will  prepare 
to  go  with  me.  I  want  you  to  guide  me  to  the  Sand 
Springs,  and  if  you  deceive  me  in  one  particular  your 
life  shall  immediately  pay  the  forfeit." 

The  old  planter  was  sold,  and  there  was  no  help  for 
it.  Sullenly,  but  faithfully  he  obeyed  orders,  and  when 
the  expedition  returned  he  was  allowed  to  remain  with 
his  family.  The  rebels  fled  at  our  approach;  the  fac 
tory  was  destroyed ;  the  store  gutted,  &c. 


CHAPTER   XX. 


luka  is  a  pretty  little  town  twenty -five  miles 
east  of  Jacinto,  Mississippi,  and  is  on  the  Memphis, 
and  Charleston  railroad.  It  is  twenty  miles  south-east 
of  Corinth,  and  is  pleasantly  located.  The  country  is 
rather  better  than  any  we  have  seen  in  Mississippi,  and 
the  improvements  are  good.  The  town  has  some  very 
fine  buildings,  for  private  residences,  and  one  fine  large 
hotel.  It  has  several  mineral  springs  in  the  neighbor 
hood,  which  have  obtained  quite  a  notoriety  for  theii 
curative  properties.  Iron,  sulphur  and  salts,  character 
ize  the  water  of  these  springs.  The  chalybeate  spring 
is  highly  impregnated  with  the  medical  properties  of 
iron,  and  is  no  doubt  admirably  adapted  to  some  cases 
of  disease.  The  sulphur  spring  is  also  strongly  tinct 
ured  with  sulphur.  On  account  of  these  springs,  luk? 
has  been  a  favorite  resort  for  invalid  planters  and 
their  families,  and  perhaps,  some  day  may  become  p 
noted  u  watering  place." 

The  regiment  went  into  camp  half  a  mile  south  of 
town,  on  a  pleasant  piece  of  ground,  formerly  used  as  a 
play  ground  for  the  scholars  of  an  academy  located 
there.  The  academy  building  was  yet  standing,  but  haa 
been  used  as  barracks  for  soldiers,  and  was  very  much 
abused.  Doctor  Maynard  took  possession  of  it  now, 
for  the  use  of  the  sick. 

The  regiment  had  now  marched  in  its  advances  and 

(143) 


144  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

retreats,  over  two  hundred  miles  since  coming  to  the 
State  of  Mississippi,  and  the  men  were  willing  to  rest 
for  a  short  time  at  luka. 

Rumor  now  has  it,  that  one  Brigade  is  to  remain  here 
during  the  balance  of  the  summer.  The  men  are  there 
by  encouraged  to  erect  some  more  pleasant  bowers,  to 
protect  themselves  from  the  excessive  heat. 

A  day  or  two  after  coming  here,  two  of  our  boys, 
while  scouting  through  the  country,  stopped  at  a  widow 
womans,  and  in  genuine  guerrilla  fashion,  proceeded  to 
rob  her  of  all  the  money  she  had,  some  forty  or  fifty 
dollars.  The  woman  followed  them  to  camp,  and  re 
ported  the  affair  to  the  Captain  of  the  company.  The 
boys  were  arrested,  but  what  punishment  they  received, 
deponent  saith  not. 

Two  other  cases  of  a  similar  character,  only  on  a 
much  larger  scale,  and  perhaps  with  more  justice,  occur 
red  while  laying  here.  A  rich  old  planter,  living  about 
two  miles  from  town,  had  the  reputation  of  being  a 
rebel,  although  he  remained  at  home,  and  apparently 
minded  his  own  business.  General  Mitchell,  however, 
supposed  him  to  be  a  fit  subject  for  arrest,  and  to  have 
the  law  of  confiscation  applied  to  his  property.  He, 
therefore,  sent  a  squad  of  men,  and  brought  the  old 
man  to  town,  together  with  horses,  mules,  wagons,  cot 
ton,  and  negroes,  to  the  amount  of  twenty  thousand 
dollars.  All  the  property  was  taken  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Government,  and  the  old  gentleman  was  held  for 
the  safety  of  the  commonwealth. 

The  other  case  was  that  of  an  old  planter  in  Ala 
bama,  about  twenty  miles  south  of  luka.  He,  too,  was 
rich,  with  negroes,  cotton,  mules,  etc.,  and  was  tainted 
with  disunion  sentiments.  General  Mitchell  deemed  it 
necessary  to  clip  the  wings  of  his  riches,  also,  lest  they 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  145 

should  fly  over  to  the  rebel  cause.  Accordingly,  a  de 
tachment  of  two  or  three  regime-nts,  the  Fifty-Ninth 
included,  were  started  out  one  evening,  about  sun-down, 
to  make  him  a  visit.  After  marching  all  night,  they 
came  to  the  plantation  at  sun-rise,  or  just  before,  but 
not  earlj'  enough  to  catch  the  old  planter.  The  ne 
groes,  cotton,  mules,  horses  and  wagons,  were  taken  in 
possession.  Other  plantations  were  visited,  and  many 
bales  of  cotton  wer.e  found  hid  away  in  the  brush,  the 
hiding  places  being  pointed  out  by  the  negroes.  The 
expedition  returned,  with  ninety  bales  of  cotton,  be 
sides  other  property,  to  the  amount  of  several  thousands 
of  dollars.  These  three  cases  were  somewhat  similar, 
but  with  this  difference:  the  one  was  in  accordance  with 
guerrilla  warfare,,  the  other  according  to  the  law  of 
civilized  warfare. 

The  health  of  the  regiment  continued  good  while 
here,  although  some  cases  occurred  from  the  excessive 
use  of  green  corn,  and  other  imprudent  indulgences. 
One  patient,  (Nathan  Logue,  of  Company  B,)  was  taken 
sick  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  was  sent  to  town  to 
general  hospital  on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  and  died 
that  afternoon,  at  three  o'clock. 

The  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  F,  (John  Kelly,) 
was  here  compelled  to  leave  his  company,  and  attend 
solely  to  his  own  afflictions.  For  several  months  his 
eyes  had  been  affected  with  severe  inflamation,  which 
now  became  almost  insupportable.  The  Surgeon,  (Doc 
tor  Maynard,)  had  frequently  advised  him  to  resign  hu 
commission,  and  leave  the  army,  until  he  could  get  his 
eyes  restored  to  a  healthy  condition.  This  he  per 
sistently  refused  to  do.  His  love  of  country  was  above 
all  considerations  of  self.  Said  he  :  "  My  country  needs 
my  services.  I  was,  also,  instrumental  in  getting  the 
(10) 


146       FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

boys  of  Company  F  to'  enlist,  and  they  were  generous 
enough  to  give  me  the  second  position  in  the  company, 
and  now  I  will  not  desert  them.  I  will  share  their  toils 
and  hardships  as  long  as  it  is  possible  for  me  to  do  so." 
Now  his  eyes  had  become  so  much  inflamed  that  he 
could  not  see.  The  pain  was  excessive,  his  whole  sys 
tem  became  deranged,  fever  set  in,  typhoid  symptoms 
soon  made  their  appearance,  and  he  became  prostrated. 
He  was  taken  to  a  private  house  in  town,  was  well 
nursed  and  medically  attended;  but  nature  could  en 
dure  no  longer,  and,  in  August  he  was  buried  at  luka, 
Mississippi.  He  was  beloved  by  all  belonging  to  his 
company,  and  highly  respected  by  every  officer  and 
private  in  the  regiment.  His  love  of  country  was  only 
excelled  by  his  love  of  virtue. 


iitf-Y'i  ' 
f«saoiT  ifiisa&O  Imuor 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


Orders  came  to  the  regiment  on  the  morning  of  the 
18th  of  August,  to  march  at  twelve  o'clock.  This 
order  had  been  anticipated  for  a  day  or  two,  and  did  not 
create  any  surprise.  Although  the  men  had  been  ex 
pecting  to  remain  some  time  longer  at  luka,  they  wil 
lingly  proceeded  to  pull  down  arbors  and  strike  tents. 
The  Fifty-£Tinth  had  been  in  service  long  enough  to 
learn  that  orders  were  not  rumors  or  suppositions,  and 
that  to  obey  with  alacrity  was  characteristic  of  a  con 
tented  soldier;  and  that,  however  much  they  might 
desire  to  stay  at  luka,  the  better  policy  was  to  leave 
without  complaint. 

"Rumors,  rumors;  vague,  contradictory!  Surely, 
like  the  heath  on  which  the  witches  in  'Macbeth' 
stirred  their  gruel,  and  summoned  the  spirits  of  many 
colors."  As  "W.  L.  F.  writes  of  Memphis,  so  luka  is  at 
this  time — the  gathering  place  of  "  black  rumors  and 
white,  red  rumors  and  grey."  Every  hour  there  is  a 
new  batch  of  them.  One  rumor  says  that  General  Buell 
is  now  in  the  Sequatchie  Valley,  east  of  Stevenson  and 
north  of  the  Tennessee  River,  nearly  north  of  Chatta 
nooga,  with  General  Kirby  Smith  in  his  front,  with  Polk 
and  Bragg  in  his  rear,  and  with  Forrest's  cavalry  on 
the  north,  which  is  large,  and  another  formidable  force 
on  the  south,  leaving  him  a  bare  possibility  of  escaping 
with  his  command.  Then  comes  another  one  on  the 
same  day,  and  tells  that  General  Bragg  was  near  Boli- 

(147) 


148  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

var,  with  an  army  of  twenty  thousand  men,  and  about 
to  surround  General  Ross,  who  is  in  command  at  that 
place.  And  still  another — that  "  Price  is  at  Grand 
Junction,'7  and  is  about  to  eat  up  the  army  of  General 
Ro-secranz,  at  Corinth.  To  the  relief  of  some  one  of 
these  points,  the  command  of  General  Davis  is  now  to 
be  sent.  Some  suppose  it  will  be  back  to  Corinth, 
and  some  to  relieve  Buell.  The  latter  proved  to  be  the 
correct  supposition,  and  hence  the  direction  taken  was 
towards  Tennessee. 

At  twelve  o'clock,  the  command  moved  out.  At  one 
o'clock  it  commenced  raining,  and  continued  raining 
till  the  next  morning.  The  command  marched  eight 
miles  that  afternoon,  going  into  camp  sometime  after 
dark — and  dark  it  was,  too.  Wet  and  hungry,  the  men 
had  to  lay  that  night  without  fire  or  tents.  It  was  too 
dark  to  find  wood,  and  the  wagons  did  not  come  up  in 
time  to  pitch  tents.  About  day-light  the  rain  ceased, 
and  the  sun  came  up  bright  and  cheering,  and  disclosed 
to  view  the  small  town  of  Eastport,  and  the  Tennessee 
River.  Two  steamboats  were  in  waiting  at  the  wharf 
to  ferry  the  troops  over. 

'  Eastport  is  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Tennessee  River, 
in  the  north-east  corner  of  the  State  of  Mississippi.  It 
is,  altogether,  a  one-horse  town,  although  some  busi 
ness  in  the  way -of  shipping  produce  has  been  carried 
on  here.  The  town  is  situated  on  one  of  those  high, 
abrupt  banks,  which  are  everywhere  met  with  along 
the  Tennessee  River.  The  view  from  the  bluff  just 
above  town  affords  a  most  magnificent  scenery.  In  the 
east  the  sun  is  lending  a  brilliancy  to  the  dispersing 
rain-clouds  of  the  night  before.  In  the  south  the  blue 
waters  of  the  Tennessee,  are  seen  emerging  from  a 
narrow  avenue,  among  the  heavy  foliage  of  the  forest 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  149 

trees,  in  the  distance ;  and  in  the  north  the  same  waters 
are  seen  disappearing  as  they  came,  to  find  their  level 
in  the  bosom  of  its  rival — the  Ohio.  Beneath  you  lay 
the  two  steamboats,  sending  up  their  wreath  of  white, 
and  their  black  columns  of  smoke.  A  line  of  soldiers 
are  forming  on  the  wharf  to  await  the  order  for  cross 
ing.  In  the  back-ground  are  the  camps,  with  their 
thousand  soldiers,  in  all  conceivable  attitudes,  giving  a 
lively  finish  to  the  picture. 

Soon  after  sun-rise  the  troops  commenced  crossing. 
At  three  o'clock  the  Fifty-Ninth  crossed  over,  and  went 
into  camp  about  one  mile  from  the  river.  The  20th 
was  consumed  in  getting  the  trains  over,  and  in  fitting 
up  rations,  etc.,  for  a  continued  march.  While  here 
the  boys  amused  themselves  bathing  in  the  river,  and 
washing  up  their  dirty  clothing.  Here,  too,  Colonel 
Post  again  came  very  near  being  captured.  He,  with 
Doctor  Maynard,  who  was  ever  ready  for  a  scout,  or  a 
dash  at  the  Johnny  secesh,  rode  out  beyond  the  lines 
in  the  evening,  and  called  at  a  plantation,  where  two 
or  three  ladies  detained  them  until  after  dark.  Soon 
after  starting  for  camp  they  were  ordered  to  "halt"  by 
some  unseen  foe ;  but,  not  being  inclined  to  an  ambush, 
they  put  spurs  to  their  horses,  and  made  their  escape, 
although  several  shots  were  fired  after  them. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st  we  again  broke  camp, 
and  did  not  pitch  tents  until  we  reached  Florence,  Ala 
bama.  Florence  is  a  beautiful  town,  of,  perhaps,  one 
thousand  inhabitants.  It  is  situated  near  the  right 
bank  of  the  Tennessee  River,  not  far  from  the  Tennes 
see  State  line.  It  seems  to  be  a  place  of  some  business, 
but,  to  judge  from  appearances,  it  is  principally  occu 
pied  by  wealthy  citizens,  who  are  destitute  of  employ 
ment.  There  is  no  other  town  so  well  calculated  for 


150  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

the  enjoyment  of  repose  as  Florence.  The  houses,  for 
the  most  part,  are  set  back  some  distance  from  the 
street,  and  the  front  yard  is  filled  with  most  delightful 
shade  trees.  Many  of  these  trees  are  quite  large,  indi 
cating  great  age,  but  have  been  cut  off*  at  the  top  so  as 
not  to  be  of  too  great  a  hight  for  ornament  as  well  as 
shade.  In  riding  along  the  street,  in  hot  weather,  the 
inclination  to  stop,  and  take  a  siesta  under  these  cool 
shades,  is  almost  irresistable.  A  glimpse  of  the  white 
cottage,  within,  is  only  now  and  then  obtained  through 
the  thick  foliage  of  the  trees  in  front.  No  wonder  the 
citizens  of  Florence  are  opposed  to  the  emancipation 
policy.  To  lay  in  the  shade  here,  and  have  slaves  to 
wait  on  you — what  more  could  be  desired? 

The  regiment  encamped  near  the  river,  not  far  from 
a  railroad  bridge  that  had  been  burned  by  General 
Sherman,  a  few  months  before. 

The  tents,  and  all  camp  equipage,  were  now  ordered 
to  be  left  behind,  and  the  men  march  with  light  knap 
sacks.  From  Florence  the  march  was  continued  to 
Lawrenceburg,  Tennessee;  thence  to  Columbia,  from 
Columbia  to  Franklin,  and  through  Franklin  to  Mur- 
freesboro',  Tennessee.  Here  we  lay  in  camp  one  day, 
and  then  moved  out  for  Nashville.  Starting  late  in  the 
evening,  we  reached  Nashville  next  afternoon  at  four 
o'clock,  making  over  thirty  miles  in  less  than  twenty 
four  hours. 

The  country,  from  Florence  to  Murfreesboro',  is  under 
good  cultivation,  and  is  the  most  productive  of  any  the 
army  has  passed  through  since  leaving  Boonville,  Mis 
souri.  The  splendid  plantations  of  General  Polk  and 
brothers  are  on  this  road,  and  are  unsurpassed  by  any 
that  we  have  ever  seen.  The  buildings  are  of  the  most 
approved  style  of  modern  architecture,  and  the  grounds 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  151 

are  most  beautifully  arranged,  after  the  English  model. 
All  that  money,  art  and  slave  labor  can  accomplish  is 
here  displayed.  The  land  is  rich,  and  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation. 

Columbia,  Franklin  and  Murfreesboro'  are  interesting 
towns,  of  twelve  or  fifteen  hundred  inhabitants  each. 
At  Columbia  is  an  obelisk,  erected  to  the  memory  of 
the  heroes  who  volunteered  to  leave  their  homes,  and 
the  town  of  Columbia,  for  the  purpose  of  serving  in  the 
Mexican  war.  The  inscriptions  on  this  monument  give 
the  names,  rank,  age  and  time  of  .death  of  these  honor 
able  heroes.  It  is  quite  an  ornament  to  the  public 
square  of  the  town,  and  speaks  volumes  in  praise  of  the 
good  and  patriotic  citizens.  The  honor  was  due  the 
Mexican  heroes. 

The  command  passed  through  Franklin  on  Sunday. 
The  citizens  were  consequently  at  leisure  to  meet  on 
the  streets  and  witness  the  soldiers  as  they  marched 
through  town.  The  soldier  prides  himself,  at  all  times, 
on  his  soldierly  appearance  when  in  the  ranks,  but, 
when  passing  through  these  secesh  towns,  he  more 
than  takes  delight  in  showing  himself  to  good  advan 
tage.  "Here's  your  Yankee  soldier,  you  insignificant 
traitor,  you — look  at  him,  and  tremble" — is  the  expres 
sion  he  wears  on  his  countenance,  and  exhibits  in  hia 
military  step  and  bearing.  The  citizens  of  Franklin 
were  much  more  numerous  than  had  been  seen  in  any 
of  the  towns  hitherto  passed  through.  There  were, 
perhaps,  more  union  people,  and  a  less  number  who 
had  fled  at  our  approach. 

Five  miles  west  of  Franklin  a  large  cotton  factory  is 
in  operation,  and,  as  the  army  passed,  the  factory  girls, 
to  the  number  of  two  or  three  hundred,  came  out  to  see 
it  pass.  The  girls  were  neatly  dressed  in  their  holi- 


152  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

day  clothing,  and  presented  a  very  interesting  spectacle 
to  the  soldiers.  Many  months  had  passed  since  so 
many  young  ladies  had  been  looked  upon  by  these  war 
worn  soldiers.  Home  and  civilized  society  was  brought 
to  the  memory,  and  many  a  sad  thought  forced  itself 
through  the  mind,  of  the  loved  ones  at  home,  who,  to 
day,  were  congregated  at  their  places  of  Sunday  gather 
ing,  in  the  country,  to  hear  glad  tidings  from  the 
preacher.  Jests  and  repartees  flew  thick  and  fast  be 
tween  the  girls  and  the  soldier-boys,  as  the  regiments 
moved  by.  Many  of  these  girls  were  very  pretty  and 
intelligent,  although  they,  more  than  likely,  belonged 
to  the  families  of  the  "poor  white  trash"  of  the  South. 

"When  going  into  camp  near  Murfreesboro',  two  boys 
of  the  Fifty-Ninth  left  the  regiment  to  visit  a  house 
half  a  mile  from  the  road  for  the  purpose  of  getting 
something  for  their  supper.  While  there  they  were 
surprised  by  three  or  four  guerrillas  and  taken  prisoners. 
News  of  the  affair  soon  came  to  camp  and  a  squad  was 
sent  out  after  them,  but  without  success. 

Arriving  at  Nashville  on  the  4th  the  regiment  went 
into  camp  two  miles  south  of  the  city,  and  lay  there 
until  the  morning  of  the  6th,  when  it  again  moved  out. 
Passing  through  the  city  it  crossed  the  Tennessee  river 
and  encamped  near  Edgefield.  Here  General  Davis 
lays  in  wait  until  the  balance  of  Buell's  army  could 
come  up  and  cross  the  river.  General  Jeff.  C.  Davis 
was  detached  from  the  army  of  General  Rosecranz,  at 
luka,  with  eight  thousand  men,  and  reported  to  Gen 
eral  Buell  at  Murfreesboro'.  The  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois 
was  in  his  command  and  was  among  the  first  regiments 
that  crossed  the  river  at  Nashville. 

The  positions  of  General  Buell's  army  at  Battle 
Creek,  Huntsville,  and  McMinnville,  on  account  of  the 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  153 

movements  of  General  Bragg' s  rebel  army,  became  un 
tenable,  and  bad  to  be  evacuated.  General  Bragg  massed 
his  army  at  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville,  Tennessee. 
One  corps,  under  General  Kirby  Smith,  had  succeeded 
in  a  flank  movement,  and  had  already  reached  the 
borders  of  Kentucky.  Two  other  corps  under  General 
Hardee  and  Leonidas  Polk  were  about  to  succeed  in 
joining  Smith,  thus  forming  an  army  of  forty  thousand 
men — sufficiently  strong  to  threaten  either  Cincinnati 
or  Louisville,  and  cut  General  Buell  off  from  all  his 
communications.  These  movements  caused  General 
Buell  to  move  his  army  with  all  dispatch  towards  Lou 
isville  to  secure  his  own  safety  and  that  of  Louisville 
and  Cincinnati. 

The  crossing  was  effected  on  the  8th,  and  about  sun 
set  the  Fifty-N'inth  again  pushed  out.  The  evening 
was  mild  and  pleasant,  although  somewhat  lowering. 
Clouds  were  accumulating  and  thickening  in  the  west, 
and  appearances  rather  indicated  rain.  £s"o  rain  had 
fallen  since  leaving  Eastport,  and  the  roads  were  get 
ting  very  dry  and  dusty,  and  water  very  scarce.  A  rain 
would  therefore  be  very  acceptable  at  this  time — but 
such  a  rain  as  fell  that  night  was  more  than  agreeable! 
The  troops  had  hardly  got  under  way,  when  it  became 
dark,  and  continually  growing  darker.  It  finally  be 
came  "darkness  visible,"  and  the  rain  commenced. 
The  heavens  opened  and  poured  their  floods  of  water 
in  torrents;  the  lightning's  vivid  flash  is  blinding,  and 
the  thunder's  roar  exceeds  the  combined  report  of  all 
earth's  artillery.  No  mortal  man  could  march  in  such 
a  storm,  and  for  half  an  hour  the  mighty  hosts  of  Gen 
eral  Buell  bent  themselves  submissively  to  the  will  of 
Him  "who  rides  upon  the  whirlwind  and  controls  the 
storm."  When  the  storm  moderated,  the  march  was 


154  FIFTY-NINTH  REGIMENT 

continued  and  kept  up  until  two  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing.  After  marching  all  night,  the  regiment  lay  here 
quietly  in  camp  for  over  thirty-six  hours,  and  then 
made  another  night  march,  and  lay  in  camp  a  day. 
Why  this  night  marching,  and  laying  by  through  the 
day,  is  unaccountable  to  outsiders. 
;  The  march  now  continues  from  day  to  day  until  the 
27th  of  September,  when  the  army  encamps  at  Louis 
ville.  The  route  traversed  by  General  Jeff'.  C.  Davis3 
division,  was  from  Nashville  via  Franklin,  Dripping 
Springs,  Cave  City,  to  Bowling  Green ;  from  Bowling 
Green  through  Mumfordsville,  Elizabethtown  and  West 
Point  to  Louisville.  The  distance  from  Nashville  to 
Louisville,  by  the  roads  marched  over,  is  over  two  hun 
dred  miles,  and  the  time  occupied  in  marching  was 
fourteen  days.  The  army  having  layed  by  four  days 
and  counter-marched  one.  At  Dripping  Springs  the 
division  encamped  one  night,  and  marched  out  early 
the  next  morning,  and  until  twelve  o'clock.  A  halt 
was  called,  the  column  faced  about  and  marched  di 
rectly  back  to  the  last  night's  camp.  Buell  was  either 
a  knave  or  a  coward,  or  perhaps  both.  The  probabil 
ities  are  that  if  Buell  had  marched  his  army  as  a  Gen 
eral  should  and  would  have  done  from  Nashville  on,  he 
would  have  saved  the  surrender  of  the  four  thousand 
brave  men  at  Mumfordsville.  But  what  time  he  could 
not  loiter  away,  he  took  up  in  counter-marching  his 
weary  and  half-fed  troops. 

A  division  of  only  two  brigades  of  Bragg's  army  under 
General  Buckner,  attacked  our  forces  at  Mumfordsville. 
This  force  consisted  of  the  Sixteenth,  Seventeenth  Six 
ty-Seventh  and  Eighty-Third  Indiana  regiments,  under 
Colonel  Wilder.  After  being  repulsed  three  times,  with 
a  loss  of  two  or  three  hundred,  they  retire  to  await  re- 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  155 

inforcements.  In  a  day  or  two  they  renew  the  attack 
with  a  largely  increased  force.  After  a  desperate  re 
sistance,  Colonel  Wilder  is  compelled  to  surrender. 
The  prisoners  are  paroled,  and  in  a  day  or  two  they 
pass  through  our  columns  to  the  rear,  without  arms. 
"Why  was  it  that  General  Buell  did  not  reinforce  that 
bravely  defended  garrison?  If,  instead  of  counter-! 
inarching  twenty  miles  and  wasting  two  or  three  days 
in  idleness,  he  had  steadily  advanced  with  his  army, 
Mumfordsville  would  have  been  saved.  Had  he  have 
been  seen  and  known  along  the  lines  at  the  time  those 
brave  men  were  passing  to  the  rear,  his  hide  would 
never  have  held  bran. 

"When  our  army  passed  through  the  ground  held  by 
the  rebels,  during  the  attack,  the  dead  were  yet  un- 
buried.  A  rebel  officer  and  private  soldier,  the  one  in 
splendid  uniform,  the  other  in  rags,  were  side  by  side, 
awaiting  the  sexton's  aid.  From  Mumfordsville  to 
Louisville  the  march  was  continued  unintermittingly, 
and  on  less  than  half  rations  and  some  daya  without 
water.  Some  of  the  men  were  without  food  for  forty- 
eight  hours.  Without  shoes,  ragged  and  dirty,  they 
arrive  at  Louisville,  contrasting  beautifully  with  the 
neatly  uniformed  recruits  about  the  city,  with  their 
paper  collars  and  blacked  boots. 

General  Jeff.  C.  Davis'  division  had  now  marched 
about  three  hundred  and  seventy-five  miles  since  the 
18th  of  August,  and  over  six  hundred  miles  since  leav 
ing  Corinth,  Miss. 

The  sick  and  disabled  were  left  in  hospital  at  Bowl 
ing  Green  as  the  regiment  came  through,  so  that  on  its 
arrival  at  Louisville  there  was  but  one  disabled  man  in 
the  Fifty-Mnth,  and  he  unfortunately  became  disabled 


156  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

by  falling  from  the  top  of  a  loaded  wagon  and  breaking 
his  arm. 

"While  at  Louisville,  the  boys,  as  a  general  thing,  had 
the  privilege  of  the  city  and  enjoyed  themselves  very 
much.  Some  of  them  took  "  french  leave,"  and  visited 
their  friends  over  the  river.  One  man,  William  Rum- 
'.  ey,  company  H,  lost  his  life  while  here,  in  an  unfortu 
nate  difficulty  with  a  fellow  soldier.  Rumsey  was  a 
good  soldier,  and  not  at  all  inclined  to  be  quarrelsome, 
but  through  some  evil  influence  he  enraged  one  of  Gen 
eral  Mitchell's  body  guard  to  such  a  degree  that  he 
drew  his  pistol  and  shot  him. 

Here,  also,  the  regiment  met  with  a  great  loss  by  the 
transfer  of  Dr.  II.  J.  Maynard  to  another  department. 
Through  the  influence  of  some  friends  in  Arkansas,  he 
was  commissioned  First  Surgeon  of  the  First  Arkansas 
Cavalry  Regiment.  This  entitled  him  to  a  transfer, 
and  he  bid  adieu  to  the  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois  at  Louis 
ville.  His  withdrawal  from  the  regiment  was  seriously 
regretted  by  all  who  had  ever  had  any  intercourse  with 
Mm.  As  a  man,  he  was  affable  and  gentlemanly  in  his 
intercourse  with  the  men,  and  as  a  Surgeon,  he  was 
courteous,  kind  and  scientific.  His  liberality  and  good 
ness  of  heart  endeared  him  to  all  in  the  regiment.  He 
will  ever  carry  with  him  the  respect  and  gratitude  of  all 
those  to  whom  he  ministered  while  with  the  command. 
The  most  striking  incident  which  occurred  while  the 
regiment  lay  at  Louisville,  was  the  shooting  of  General 
Nelson  by  Jeff.  C.  Davis.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the 
act  was  morally  and  legally  justifiable. 

General  Jeff.  C.  Davis  was  at  home  on  leave  of  ab 
sence,  which  he  obtained  a  short  time  before  his  divi 
sion  left  the  State  of  Mississippi,  on  a  plea  of  ill  health. 
When  the  alarm  was  raised  in  Louisville  that  the  enemy 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  157 

were  marching  on  that  city,  General  Jeff.  C.  Davis,  who 
could  not  reach  his  command  under  General  Buell,  then 
at  Bowling  Green,  went  to  General  Nelson  and  tendered 
his  services.  General  Nelson  gave  him  the  command 
of  the  city  militia,  so  soon  as  they  were  organized. 
General  Davis  opened  an  office  and  went  to  work  in 
assisting  in  the  organization.  On  Wednesday,  General 
Davis  called  upon  General  Nelson  in  his  room  at  the 
Gait  House,  in  Louisville,  when  the  following  took 
place : 

General  Davis  said,  "I  have  the  brigade,  General, 
you  assigned  me,  ready  for  service,  and  have  called  to 
inquire  if  I  can  obtain  arms  for  them." 

General  Nelson — "How  many  men  have  you?" 

General  Davis — "About  twenty-five  hundred  men, 
General." 

General  Nelson — roughly  and  angrily — "  About  twen 
ty-five  hundred !  About  twenty -jive  hundred!  By  G — d! 
you  a  regular  officer,  and  come  here  to  me  and  report 
about  the  number  of  men  in  your  command.  G — d 
d — n  you,  don't  you  know  sir,  you  should  furnish  me 
the  exact  number?" 

Davis — •"  General,  I  did'nt  expect  to  get  the  guns  now, 
and  only  wanted  to  learn  if  I  could  get  them,  and  where, 
and  having  learned  the  exact  number  needed,  would 
then  draw  them." 

Nelson — pacing  the  floor  in  a  rage — "  About  two 
thousand  five  hundred.  By  G — d,  I  suspend  you  from 
your  command,  and  order  you  to  report  to  General 
Wright,  and  I've  a  mind  to  put  you  under  arrest.  Leave 
my  room,  sir." 

Davis — "I  will  not  leave,  General,  until  you  give  me 
an  order." 

Nelson— "The  h— 1  you  won't.     By  G— d  I'll  put 


158  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

you  under  arrest,  and  send  you  out  of  the  city  under  a 
provost  guard.     Leave  my  room,  sir." 

General  Davis  left  the  room,  and  in  order  to  avoid  an 
arrest,  crossed  over  the  river  to  Jeffersonville,  where  he 
remained  until  the  next  day,  when  he  was  joined  by 
General  Burbridge,  who  had  also  been  relieved  by  Nel 
son  for  a  trivial  cause.  General  Davis  came  to  Cincin 
nati  with  General  Burbridge,  and  reported  to  General 
Wright,  who  ordered  General  Davis  to  return  to  Louis 
ville,  and  report  to  General  Buell,  and  General  Bur- 
bridge  to  remain  in  Cincinnati.  General  Davis  returned 
on  Friday  evening,  and  reported  to  General  Buell. 

Nothing  further  occurred  until  yesterday  morning, 
when  General  Davis  seeing  General  Nelson  in  the  main 
hall  of  the  Gait  House,  fronting  the  office,  went  up  to 
Governor  Morton  and  requested  him  to  step  up  with 
him  to  General  Nelson,  and  witness  the  conversation 
that  might  pass  between  Nelson  and  him.  The  Gov 
ernor  consented,  and  the  two  walked  up  to  General 
Nelson,  when  the  following  took  place: 

General  Davis — "  Sir,  you  seemed  to  take  advantage 
of  your  authority  the  other  day." 

General  Nelson — sneeringly  and  placing  his  hand  to 
his  ear — "  Speak  louder,  I  don't  hear  very  well." 

Davis — in  a  louder  tone — "You  seemed  to  take  ad 
vantage  of  your  authority  the  other  day." 

Nelson — indignantly — "I  don't  know  that  I  did,  sir." 

Davis — "You  threatened  to  arrest  and  send  me  out 
'of  the  State  under  a  provost  guard." 

Nelson — striking  Davis  with  the  back  of  his  hand 
twice  in  the  face — "There,  d — n  you,  take  that." 

Davis — retreating — "This  is  not  the  last  of  it;  you 
will  hear  from  me  again." 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  159 

General  kelson  then  turned  to  Governor  Morton  and 
Baid :  "By  G — d,  did  you  come  here  also  to  insult  me?" 

Governor  Morton — "  No,  sir ;  but  I  was  requested  to 
be  present  and  listen  to  the  conversation  between  you 
and  General  Davis." 

General  Nelson — violently  to  the  bystanders — "  Did 
you  hear  the  d — d  rascal  insult  me  ?  "  and  then  walked 
into  the  ladies'  parlor. 

In  three  minutes  General  Davis  returned  with  a  pis 
tol  he  had  borrowed  of  Captain  Gibson,  of  Louisville, 
and  walking  toward  the  door  that  Nelson  had  passed 
through,  he  saw  Nelson  walking  out  of  the  parlor  into 
the  hall  separating  the  main  hall  from  the  parlor.  The 
two  were  face  to  face,  and  about  ten  yards  apart,  when 
General  Davis  drew  his  pistol  and  fired,  the  ball  enter 
ing  Nelson's  heart,  or  in  the  immediate  vicinity. 

General  Nelson  threw  up  both  hands  and  caught  a 
gentleman  near  by  around  the  neck,  and  exclaimed, 
"  I'm  shot."  He  then  walked  up  the  flight  of  stairs  to 
wards  General  BuelPs  room,  but  sank  at  the  foot  of  the 
stairs,  and  was  unable  to  proceed  further.  He  was  then 
conveyed  to  his  room,  and  when  laid  on  his  bed,  re 
quested  that  Rev.  Mr.  Talbott,  an  Episcopal  clergyman 
stopping  at  the  house,  might  be  sent  to  him  at  once. 
The  reverend  gentleman  arrived  in  about  five  minutes. 

Mr.  Talbott  found  General  Nelson  extremely  anxious 
as  to  his  future  welfare,  and  deeply  penitent  about  the 
many  sins  he  had  committed.  He  knew  he  must  die 
immediately,  and  requested  the  ordinance  of  baptism 
might  be  administered,  which  was  done.  The  General 
then  whispered  :  "  It's  all  over,"  and  died  in  fifteen  min 
utes  after  he  was  conveyed  to  his  room.  His  death  was 
easy,  the  passing  away  of  his  spirit  as  though  the  Gen 
eral  had  fallen  into  a  quiet  sleep.  His  remains  lay  in 


160  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

state  two  days,  and  bis  funeral  was  witnessed  by  many 
of  tbe  Fifty-Ninth  and  other  regiments. 

General  Davis  immediately  gave  himself  up  to  the 
military  authorities  to  await  a  trial  by  court-martial. 

This  is  the  first  case  of  the  kind  that  has  ever  occur 
red  in  the  American  army,  and  its  effect  both  North 
and  South,  will  be  startling.  Nelson,  although  rough, 
tyrannical  and  insulting  to  General  Davis,  yet  in  a  mil 
itary  point  of  view,  General  Davis  was  unjustifiable  in 
shooting.  Davis,  however,  has  the  sympathies  of  the 
people,  both  in  Louisville  and  in  the  army,  and  would 
undoubtedly  be  pardoned  by  the  President  had  a  court- 
matial  found  him  guilty. 

A  brief  review  of  General  Davis'  military  career  may 
not  be  uninteresting.  He  was  born  in  Indiana,  and  is 
now  about  thirty-four  years  of  age.  He  was  married 
about  six  month  since,  and  his  wife  is  living  fourteen 
miles  back  of  Jefferson ville.  He  went  to  Mexico  as  a 
private,  when  only  sixteen  years  of  age;  and  on  June 
17, 1848,  entered  the  regular  army  as  Second  Lieutenant 
of  Artillery.  He  was  with  Major  Anderson  at  Fort 
Sumter,  and  fired  the  first  gun  on  the  rebels  at  that 
celebrated  engagement.  His  services,  as  officer  of  the 
guard,  are  well  known  to  the  public.  After  the  sur 
render  of  the  fort,  he  sailed  in  the  Baltic  for  New  York, 
and  was  ordered  to  Indianapolis  as  Mustering  Officer, 
Quartermaster  and  Commissary.  Remaining  in  this 
duty  three  months,  he  was  appointed  Colonel  of  the 
Twenty-Second  Indiana  Regiment,  and  was  ordered  to 
Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  to  command  that  post  with  twelve 
thousand  men  under  him.  It  was  here  he  held  impor 
tant  correspondence  with  General  Fremont,  upon  the 
necessity  of  reinforcing  Colonel  Mulligan,  at  Lexington. 
He  was  ordered  to  report  himself  on  the  Potomac,  with 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  161 

other  regular  officers.  Arriving  at  St.  Louis,  General 
Halleck  ordered  him  to  report  by  letter  and  remain 
with  him.  Davis  was  then  sent  to  Tipton,  and  there 
moved  in  junction  with  the  force  of  General  Curtis  to 
Lebanon,  Springfield  and  Pea  Ridge.  At  the  latter 
place,  in  the  great  battle,  General  Davis  commanded 
the  third  or  center  division.  After  the  battle,  the  offi 
cers  of  his  division  petitioned  the  President  to  appoint 
him  Major  General. 

At  Blackwater,  Mo.,  General  Davis  captured  one 
thousand  three  hundred  prisoners,  with  two  hundred 
and  forty  cavalry  and  three  pieces  of  artillery.  Among 
the  number  was  Colonel  Magoffin  and  three  other  Col 
onels,  four  Majors  and  a  number  of  inferior  officers. 

The  President  forwarded  a  commission  for  a  Briga 
dier  General,  and  he  was  ordered  to  Corinth,  at  which 
place  he  arrived  with  his  command  two  days  before  the 
evacuation.  He  continued  with  General  Halleck  until 
at  Jacinto,  Miss.,  he  obtained  twenty  days  leave  to  re 
turn  home.  He  was  unable  to  return  and  join  his 
command,  and  thus  he  was  thrown  into  Louisville. 

General  Nelson  went  from  Kentucky  into  the  navy 
as  a  Lieutenant,  and  with  his  movements  and  actions  in 
the  army  in  Kentucky,  since  the  war  broke  out,  every 
one  is  familiar.  He  was  made  a  Brigadier  General  on 
the  16th  of  September,  1862,  and  afterwards  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  Major  General.  He  was  formerly  a  res 
ident  of  Maysville,  and  never  was  married.  He  has  a 
large  circle  of  relatives  in  the  State,  and  a  few  residing 
in  the  East.  He  was  also  a  relative  of  Mrs.  Lincoln. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


After  resting  four  days  at  Louisville,  the  regiment, 
on  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  October,  received  orders 
to  pack  up  and  be  ready  to  move  out  at  ten  o'clock. 
The  army  was  partially  re-organized  at  Louisville,  and 
the  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois,  Twenty-Second  Indiana,  Sev 
enty-Fifth  Illinois  and  Seventy-Fourth  Illinois  regi 
ments  composed  the  Third  Brigade  of  the  Ninth  Divis 
ion  of  the  army  of  the  Ohio,  with  Colonel  P.  S.  Post, 
of  the  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois,  commanding;  and  Brigadier 
General  Jeff.  C.  Davis  commanding  the  division.  The 
command  of  the  Fifty-Ninth  now  again  devolved  on 
the  Lieutenant  Colonel,  C.  II.  Frederick.  At  ten  o'clock 
the  brigade  moved  out,  and,  passing  through  the  city, 
took  the  Bardstown  road. 

It  was  now  known  that  General  Bragg,  with  thirty- 
five  thousand  men,  was  at  Bardstown,  Kentucky,  and 
the  supposition  was  that  General  Buell  would  meet 
him  at  that  place,  where  a  general  engagement  would 
be  had. 

Bardstown  is  thirty-five  miles  from  Louisville  and  a 
forced  march  of  twenty-four  hours  would  bring  the  two 
armies  together. 

The  old  troops  were  all  anxious  to  overtake  the  rebel 
army  and  give  it  battle.  They  had  marched  from  one 
point  to  another  until  they  had  lost  all  patience,  and 
would  rather  fight  the  enemy,  two  to  one,  than  follow 

(162) 


FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT  ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.       163 

him  any  further.  The  new  troops  were  also  willing  to 
encounter  the  foe  if  necessary — but  would  as  soon  have 
remained  at  Louisville,  with  their  paper  collars  and 
black  boots,  and  their  nice  light  bread  and  butter.  The 
first  day  or  two  after  leaving  the  city  these  green  sol 
diers  looked  upon  the  war-worn  veterans  as  dirty, 
lousy  fellows,  unfit  for  associates  to  such  nice  clean  gen 
tlemen  as  they  were.  Two  or  three  days  march,  how 
ever,  began  to  reverse  the  feeling  and  by  the  time  their 
appetite  for  hard  tack  and  sow-belly  had  become  of  full 
growth  they  looked  upon  the  old  regiments  with  some 
decree  of  reverence  and  a  considerable  amount  of  awe. 

o 

While  they  were  dragging  their  sore  and  weary  feet 
along,  the  old  soldier  marched  with  ease  and  martial 
bearing,  and  while  these  poor  fellows  were  mincing  and 
making  wry  faces  at  fat  bacon  and  pilot  bread,  and 
dreaming  of  butter  and  baker's  bread,  the  veterans 
were  delighting  over  their  good  fare,  and  resting  well 
o'  nights.  And  the  lice  preferring  new  fields  of  enter 
prise,  left  their  old  haunts  and  established  new  quar 
ters  on  these  fresh  troops. 

Although  two  days  easy  marching  would  have  taken 
the  army  to  Bardstown,  its  advance  did  not  arrive  there 
until  the  fourth,  and  then  only  to  find  the  town  evacu 
ated  by  the  enemy.  The  Fifty-Ninth  passed  through 
Bardstown  and  encamped  one  mile  east.  Here  the  sick 
was  selected  from  those  able  to  march  and  sent  back  to 
hospital.  Here,  also,  P.  Sidney  Post,  commanding 
brigade,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Frederick,  command 
ing  regiment,  remained  behind,  by  order  of  the  Sur 
geon,  on  account  of  ill  health.  The  command  of  the 
regiment,  in  the  absence  of  Frederick,  devolved,  of 
course,  upon  the  Major,  J.  C.  Winters. 

It  was  now  rumored  that  the  enemy  would  give  bat- 


164  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

tie  either  at  Danville  or  some  selected  position  this  side. 
The  three  succeeding  days  were  therefore  taken  up  in 
reconnoitering  and  slow  marching.  On  the  morning 
of  the  8th  cannonading  was  heard  some  distance  to 
the  left,  and  the  command,  of  which  the  Fifty-Ninth 
formed  a  part,  was  advanced  some  two  or  three  miles 
in  the  direction  of  Perryville.  The  cannonading  con 
tinued  with  only  short  intervals  during  the  day.  The 
Ninth  .Division  changed  positions  slightly  during  the  day, 
but  did  not  get  within  striking  distance  of  the  enemy 
until  just  before  the  dusk  of  the  evening  and  only  one 
brigade  of  this  division  then  became  engaged. 

The  enemy  had  met  the  left  wing  of  our  army  early 
in  the  morning,  and  the  battle  had  raged  along  the  line 
towards  the  center  until  the  whole  left  wing  had  be 
come  engaged,  and  now,  about  four  o'clock,  the  right 
of  the  left  wing  was  being  rapidly  forced  back  by  an 
overwhelming  concentration  of  the  rebel  forces. 

To  save  his  division  from  utter  destruction,  General 
McCook  sent  an  urgent  request  that  the  Third  Brig 
ade  of  General  Davis'  division  be  immediately  for 
warded  to  the  rescue.  The  Third  Brigade  is  com 
posed  of  the  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois,  Twenty- Second  Indi 
ana,  Seventy-Fourth  and  Seventy-Fifth  Illinois.  The 
Seventy-Fourth  and  Seventy-Fifth  were  new  regiments, 
just  from  home.  The  distance  to  the  point  of  danger 
was  something  less  than  a  mile.  It  was  now  nearly 
sunset.  Cheerfully  the  brigade  marched  out  to  meet 
the  foe.  The  men  had  been  held  within  hearing  dis 
tance  of  the  fearful  carnage  all  day,  with  feelings  akin 
to  those  of  the  chained  lion  when  most  eager  for  his 
prey. 

Many  were  the  inquiries,  "Why  are  all  these  thou 
sands  of  soldiers  kept  here  idle  all  the  day  so  near  the 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  165 

battle-fieTd ? "  "Why  not  move  them  to  the  assistance 
of  our  brave  boys  on  the  left?"  The  General  in  com 
mand  alone  stands  responsible  to  his  country  and  his 
God  for  a  satisfactory  answer  to  these  inquiries. 

Very  many  of  those  who  witnessed  the  movement 
of  the  army  at  Perryville  believe  in  their  hearts  that 
General  Buell  desired  the  destruction  of  his  own  army 
instead  of  that  of  Braxton  Bragg's.  The  good  general 
ship  of  his  subordinates,  and  the  bravery  of  the  troops 
engaged,  most  gloriously  defeated  his  designs. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  a  description  of  the  part  the 
Third  Brigade  played  in  this  dreadful  tragedy. 

The  brigade  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Goodin, 
of  the  Twenty-Second  Indiana.  The  Colonel  bravely 
conducted  the  regiments  to  the  position  assigned  them, 
but  before  he  could  form  them  in  battle  array,  the 
enemy  opened  fire  with  grape  and  cannister  from  their 
batteries,  and  poured  Volley  after  volley  of  musketry 
into  his  ranks.  Nothing  daunted,  the  brave  men  re 
turned  the  fire  with  fatal  effect  for  half  an  hour,  each 
one  loading  and  firing  as  rapidly  as  possible  without 
order  or  system. 

The  enemy  at  this  point  had  massed  their  forces  for 
the  purpose  of  turning  the  right  flank  of  the  left  wing, 
which,  if  accomplished,  would  have  placed  it  entirely 
at  their  mercy,  and  numbered  at  least  ten  to  one  of  our 
brigade.  It  was  useless  to  attempt  to  resist  this  mighty 
host,  and  the  order  was  therefore  given  for  each  one  to 
provide  for  his  own  safety.  Major  Winters,  of  the 
Fifty-ETinthj  repeated  the  order  the  third  time  before 
the  men  ceased  firing,  and  then  they  most  reluctantly 
left  the  field.  Fortunately  the  ground  on  which  the 
brigade  was  halted  by  the  proximity  of  the  enemy  was 
most  favorable.  Owing  to  the  dusk  of  the  evening  and 


166  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

the  favorable  formation  of  the  ground  many  of  the 
rebel  bullets  overshot  the  mark.  Those  on  horseback 
were  in  the  most  danger.  The  escape,  however,  of  any 
of  the  brigade  seems  almost  a  miracle.  The  slaughter 
of  the  rebels  in  that  half  hour  was  dreadful.  The  idea 
of  cutting  off  and  capturing  the  left  wing  of  the  "Yan 
kee  army,"  as  one  of  the  wounded  prisoners  remarked 
the  next  morning,  was  driven  from  "Braxton's  cra 
nium."  That  night  they  evacuated  the  field,  leaving 
their  dead  to  show  the  execution  of  the  Third  Brigade 
in  thinning  their  ranks  during  that  short  contest.  The 
ground  was  literally  covered  with  the  dead  and  wounded 
of  both  sides.  The  loss  to  the  Third  was  lieavy,  but  to 
the  rebels  enormous.  Every  shot  from  the  patriot  guns 
must  have  taken  effect. 

The  Fifty- Ninth,  on  going  into  the  trap,  numbered 
two  hundred  and  ninety-one  men,  and  on  coming  out 
brought  off  one  hundred  and  eighty-three — leaving  one 
hundred  and  eight  on  the  field;  twenty-three  of  whom 
were  killed,  sixty-two  wounded,  and  twenty-three  taken 
prisoners.  Some  of  the  other  regiments  lost  more 
heavily.  The  wounded  all  lay  on  the  field  until  next 
morning.  The  rebels  holding  the  ground  until  day 
light.  As  soon  as  it  was  ascertained  that  the  enemy 
had  retreated,  the  ambulances  were  sent  out  to  gather 
up  the  wounded  and  convey  them  to  hospital.  The 
pen  can  convey  no  adequate  conception  of  the  scene 
presented  on  that  small  field  that  morning. 

In  the  approach  to  the  ground,  'the  ambulances  pass 
through  a  lane  leading  from  some  thick-timbered  land  to 
the  mansion  of  the  plantation  on  which  the  trap  was  set. 
Leaving  the  timber,  a  small  open  field  on  each  side  of 
the  lane  is  passed,  and  then  a  thinly-wooded  pasture- 
field  to  the  left,  and  open  fields  on  the  right,  extending 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  167 

to  and  surrounding  the  house.  The  appearance  of  the 
field  now  shows  that  the  rebels  were  advancing  en  mass, 
through  these  open  fields,  from  the  mansion  towards 
the  thinly-wooded  field  to  the  left,  when  the  Third 
Brigade  was  marched  in,  directly  in  front  of  them,  to 
the  wooded  pasture-field.  The  distance  from  the  house 
to  this  field  was  less  than  half  a  mile.  Through  the  lower 
side  of  this  field  a  small  ravine  passed,  and  from  it  the 
ground  gradually  ascended  towards  the  mansion.  The 
Third  was  marched  down  this  ravine,  and  in  easy  range 
of  the  rebel  muskets.  The  ravine  was  not  deep  enough 
to  protect  entirely  from  the  rebel  bullets,  but  the  rising 
ground  in  front  caused  the  enemy  to  overshoot,  to  a 
great  extent.  In  this  little  woods-pasture  lay  the  dead 
and  wounded  of  the  Third,  with  now  and  then  a  rebel 
in  the  midst,  showing  that  our  boys  had  fired  as  they 
fell  back,  and  killed  some  of  their  pursuers.  The 
grounds  between  this  and  the  house,  to  the  right  and 
left,  was  strewn  with  dead  rebels.  More  than  five  to 
one  of  those  in  the  field,  belonging  to  the  Third,  was 
here  stretched  out,  in  full  possession  of  their  deserved 
Southern  rights. 

The  sixty-two  wounded  of  the  Fifty-Ninth  were  soon 
collected,  and  carefully  transported  to  hospital,  among 
whom  was  Adjutant  Samuel  West.  Samuel  West  en 
tered  the  service  as  a  private,  in  Captain  Hale's  com 
pany  (A.)  He  was  appointed  Sergeant-Major  soon  af 
ter  the  organization  of  the  regiment,  and,  during  the 
campaigns  through  Missouri  and  Arkansas,  most  satis 
factorily  performed  the  duties  of  that  position.  On  the 
march  he  was  daily  seen  with  his  knapsack  on  his  back, 
keeping  step  with  the  men  in  the  ranks,  and  in  camp 
he  was  constantly  engaged  in  doing  his  own  legitimate 
business,  as  well  as  the  principal  part  of  that  belonging 


168  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  regiment.  When 
Adjutant  P.  Sidney  Post  received  his  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  regiment,  West  was  promoted  to  the 
place  of  Adjutant.  This  position  he  has  filled,  with 
honor  to  himself  and  much  benefit  to  the  regiment,  un 
til  now.  At  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  as  Sergeant-Ma 
jor,  he  gave  that  indication  of  bravery,  and  coolness  in 
battle,  which  so  clearly  manifested  itself  at  Perry  ville, 
while  striving  to  preserve  order  and  encourage  the  men 
to  battle  valiantly  for  their  country.  Very  soon  after 
coming  in  sight  of  the  enemy,  a  ball  hit  him  in  the  leg, 
above  the  knee,  and  soon  another,  and  another,  and 
yet  another,  and  still  another,  which  brought  him  from 
his  horse,  and  he  was  carried  from  the  field.  Five 
times  was  the  leaden  messenger  sent  into  his  person, 
but,  fortunately,  at  no  vital  point.  Although  so  many 
times  severely  wounded,  he  eventually  recovered,  with 
the  loss  of  only  one  eye.  The  loss  was  great,  to  be  sure, 
but  thankful,  no  doubt,  was  the  Adjutant  to  escape  with 
even  so  great  a  loss. 

Another  of  the  severely  wounded  was  Captain 
Charles  F.  Adams,  commanding  Company  I.  Captain 
Adams  was  promoted  from  First  Lieutenant,  soon  after 
the  resignation  of  the  former  Captain  of  the  Company, 
(Captain  James  A.  Beach,)  and,  by  his  gentlemanly 
manners  and  kind  treatment  of  his  men,  had  become 
very  much  endeared  to  them.  He  was  mortally 
wounded,  and  died  in  hospital,  on  the  15th  day  of 
October,  1862. 

Company  A  lost  one  man  killed — Francis  W.  Goff. 

Company  B  lost  its  First  Lieutenant — A.  R.  John 
son — than  whom  no  one  was  more  highly  esteemed. 
He  had  always  been  a  faithful  soldier,  and  a  good  offi 
cer.  His  manners  and  habits  were  those  of  a  gentle 
man  and  a  Christian. 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

The  killed  of  Company  0  were  Corporal  F.  C.  Cherry, 
Henry  Imel,  William  H.  Blane,  Thomas  Loyd,  James 
M.  Jones,  William  H.  Japaw.  Of  Company  i),  Thomas 
Abbott,  Elias  Walden.  Company  F  :  William  II.  Lay 
man,  Leander  Reese,  George  W.  Malatt.  Company  G: 
Sergeant  William  R.  March,  Harry  M.  Strickland 
James  Cade  and  Joseph  Geering,  who  died  on  the  llth 
from  the  effects  of  his  wounds.  Company  K,  Christian 
Assmus. 

Doctor  Hazlett,  the  Surgeon  of  the  Regiment,  was, 
also,  numbered  amongst  the  slain.  He  was  shot 
through  the  neck  while  dressing  the  wound  of  a  sol 
dier.  His  remains  were  found  the  next  morning,  and 
through  the  instrumentality  of  Captain  Snyder,  of  Com 
pany  K",  were  respectably  buried  beneath  the  sheltering 
branches  of  an  evergreen  tree  that  stood  close  beside 
the  spot  where  he  was  found.  His  boots  had  been 
stolen  from  his  feet.  A  gold  watch,  and  several  hun 
dred  dollars  in  money,  had  been  taken  from  his  pock 
ets.  His  hat,  and  a  splendid  case  of  instruments,  were 
also  gone.  The  Doctor  rode  a  very  fine  horse,  most 
splendidly  caparisoned,  and  he,  too,  was  gone. 

In  Doctor  Hazlett  the  regiment  had  lost  a  very  fine 
gentleman,  and  a  scholar.  He  was  not  so  universally 
respected  by  the  men  of  the  regiment  as  he,  perhaps, 
deserved.  His  position  was  one  requiring  peculiar 
abilities,  which,  in  many  .respects,  the  Doctor  was  de 
ficient  in.  Surgical  skill  will  secure  a  full  reputation 
at  the  operating  table,  but  something  more  is  required 
to  secure  the  entire  approbation  of  a  regiment  of  indis- 
criminating  soldiers.  His  head  was  covered  with  hair 
silvered  o'er,  not  with  age,  but  naturally,  and  some 
gave  him  the  epithet  of  "  Tow-head."  His  prescrip 
tions  consisted  largely  in  quinine,  and  hence  the  name 
of  "Quinine"  was  frequently  applied. 


170       FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

He,  one  time  after  a  hard  day's  march,  proposed  to 
treat  the  regiment  to  -a  good  "snort"  of  whisky.  This 
was  received  with  a  hurrah  by  the  men,  but,  on  taking 
the  "snort,"  it  was  so  bitter  with  quinine  that  the  wry 
faces  along  the  line  were  universal. 

Captain  Clayton  Hale,  who  was  now  acting  Major, 
had  his  horse  shot  from  under  him  while  in  advance  of 
the  regiment,  transmitting  orders  to  the  men.  He 
soon,  however,  procured  another,  and  with  it  made  his 
escape. 

Colonel  Goodin,  commanding  the  brigade,  was  cap 
tured,  and,  with  the  other  prisoners,  taken  to  General 
Bragg's  head-quarters,  where  they  were  paroled,  and 
sent  back  into  the  Union  lines. 

The  9th  was  principally  occupied  in  burying  the 
dead  and  providing  for  the  wounded.  The  regiment, 
however,  moved  about  one  mile  farther  to  the  right, 
and  lay  in  that  position  until  noon  of  the  10th,  when  it 
again  moved  some  four  miles  in  the  opposite  direction, 
going  into  camp  near  the  point  where  the  battle  first 
commenced,  on  the  morning  of  the  8th.  Here  were 
many  indications  of  the  severity  of  the  contest.  Dead 
rebels  were  everywhere  met  with,  through  the  woods, 
as  yet  unburied.  Two  of  them  lay  within  twenty  steps 
of  the  regiment  for  twenty-four  hours  after  its  arrival 
there,  and  would  have  rotted  above  ground  had  not 
some  friends  of  theirs  scattered  dirt  over  them.  Not 
that  the  Fifty-^Tmth  was  unfeeling  or  inhuman,  but  it 
was  not  their  business  to  kill,  and  then  bury  traitors. 
Close  by  was  a  small  open  field,  in  which  were  three 
hundred  muskets,  apparently  thrown  down  by  some 
regiment  that  had  been  camped  there. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


On  the  morning  of  the  12th,  the  regiment  again 
moved  out  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  Passing  through 
Danville  on  the  13th,  a-nd  through  Lancaster  on  the 
14th,  it  arrived  in  the  neighborhood  of  Crab  Orchard, 
on  the  evening  of  the  15th,  and  went  into  camp  on  the 
bank  of  Dix  River,  Ky.,  two  miles  from  Crab  Orchard, 
on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  or  rather  the  army  went 
into  bivouac,  for  the  tents  and  camp  equipage  were  yet 
in  Louisville.  An  order,  however,  was  immediately 
sent  back  to  have  them  brought  up.  The  distance 
marched  since  leaving  Louisville,  is  one  hundred  and 
thirty  miles.  And  here  and  thus  ends  Don  Carlos 
Buell's  campaign  in  Kentucky.  A  campaign  which 
should  have  resulted  in  the  capture  or  annihilation  of 
the  rebel  hordes,  but  which  will  hereafter  be  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  miserable  failures  in  the  military 
history  of  the  country.  True,  the  State  of  Kentucky 
is  now  rid  of  the  insolent,  thieving  foe,  but  this  was  not 
the  task  assigned  the  commander  of  the  army  of  the 
Ohio.  He  was  expected  to  utterly  destroy  them,  and  he 
had  the  men  and  the  opportunities  to  do  so;  but  instead, 
he  permitted  the  enemy  to  fall  upon,  in  force,  and  almost 
destroy  a  wing  of  his  army,  when  fifty  thousand  men 
were  in  easy  supporting  distance;  and  then,  as  if  to 
complete  his  work  of  imbecility  or  treachery,  allowed 
them  to  escape,  when  their  retreat  might  still  have  been 
cut  off. 

(171) 


172  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

It  is  said  that  the  army  in  Flanders  swore  terribly, 
and  there  is  no  doubt  of  that  fact.  Most  armies  do. 
But  if  any  one  had  been  fond  of  profanity,  and  wished 
to  hear  vigorous  denunciations,  in  unmistakable  Saxon, 
they  should  have  heard  the  army  of  the  Ohio,  on  the 
merits  of  the  arch  traitor,  Don  Carlos  Buell. 

The  third  great  error  of  the  war  was  now  most 
clearly  demonstrated — that  of  continuing  Don  Carlos 
in  command,  after  his  arrival  at  Louisville,  Ky. 

Here  is  an  extract  from  a  soldier's  letter,  written  to 
his  boy  at  home,  after  losing  his  summer's  harvest  by 
the  excessive  high  waters  of  that  .season,  showing  in 
wha-t  the  thoughts  of  the  soldier  frequently  consist 
while  idle  in  camp : 

"  DANVILLE,  KY.,  October  22,  1862. 

"DEAR  Sox:— For  the  first  time  since  the  28th  of 
September,  I  am  sitting  in  a  tent,  writing.  We  came 
here  yesterday,  and  are  indebted  to  the  report  that  some 
rebel  cavalry  are  following  us  up  pretty  closely,  for  the 
purpose  of  picking  up  stragglers  or  capturing  some  of 
onr  train,  for  our  leisure  day.  Our  army  is  moving 
back  to  Lebanon,  which  is  on  the  Louisville  and  Nash 
ville  railroad,  and  our  brigade  is  the  rear  guard. 

"We  left  Crab  Orchard,  Monday  morning,  and  got 
this  far,  when  we  were  halted,  and  two  regiments,  the 
Twenty-Second  Indiana  and  Seventy-Fourth  Illinois, 
were  sent  back  to  attend  to  the  rebels.  We  will,  per 
haps,  only  remain  here  until  these  regiments  return, 
and  then  move  on. 

"This  is  a  beautiful  day,  and  causes  me  to  think  of 
home.  I  would  delight,  above  all  things,  to  be  with 
you  this  pleasant  afternoon.  I  should  like  to  look 
around  with  you,  and  see  what  you  have  left  after  your 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  173 

year's  hard  work.  I  know  it  is  not  much,  but  perhaps 
what  you  have  is  worth  looking  at.  You  have  two  or 
three  nice  'shoats'  in  the  pen,  which  you  are  feeding 
for  your  winter's  meat.  They  are  doing  finely — will 
make  fine,  tender,  juicy  ham,  such  as  we  in  the  army 
are  not  accustomed  to.  Their  spare-ribs  will  be  most 
delicious,  and  the  sausage  meat  you  can  get  from 
them  will  re-pay  you  for  the  trouble  of  making  it. 
Chickens  you  have,  I  see,  in  abundance — ah !  yes,  they 
are  very  nice.  One  fried  now  and  then  is  not  bad  in  a 
small  family  like  yours,  or  even  made  into  a  pot-pie,  is 
not  hard  to  take — decidedly  better  than  a  dose  of  rheu- 
barb.  I  see  one  there,  now,  that  would  do  either  for  a 
fry  or  a  stew — that  one  with  the  plump  breast  and  yel 
low  legs.  Yes,  chickens  are  a  great  help  to  a  family, 
but  an  army  has  no  use  for  chickens.  The  individual 
soldier  sometimes  finds  use  for  them,  as  the  people  living 
along  the  line  of  march  have  learned  to  their  sorrow. 

"I  see  that  you  have  a  milch  cow  or  two.  "Well,  I 
reckon  you  make  that  which  some  people  call  butter, 
from  the  milk  of  the  cow.  Butter,  if  I  remember 
rightly,  is  a  yellow  greasy  substance  which  people  some 
times  spread  on  bread  or  hot  biscuit,  which,  as  they 
fancy,  adds  materially  to  their  relish.  I  suppose  it  is 
quite  necessary  to  those  who  have  learned  to  use  it, 
judging  from  the  longing  of  the  new  recruits  after  it 
on  leaving  Louisville;  but  we  in  the  army  have  no  use 
for  such  stuff,  and  consequently  a  cow  would  be  of  no 
service  to  us,  while  alive,  at  any  rate.  If  she  had  been 
starved  a  few  weeks,  and  then  skinned,  we,  perhaps,1 
could  make  use  of  her  bones  for  making  soup,  as  we 
understand  that.  Ah,  ha,  you  have  one  horse  left  too. 
Well,  that's  better  than  some  folks  I  know  of  down 
here  in  Dixie.  The  less  stock  you  have  the  less  feed  it 


174  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

takes,  and  the  more  time  you  have  to  spare  for  some 
thing  else.  And  then  there  is  another  consolation  about 
it — your  taxes  will  not  be  so  great  next  year.  And 
-then  also  you  will  not  be  called  up  o'  nights  to  see  if 
your  horses  haven't  got  loose  in  the  stable  and  gone  to 
kicking  each  other  in  the  dark.  I  think  it  is  a  blessed 
thing  to  have  nothing.  Now,  when  we  left  Bowling 
Green,  Kentucky,  on  our  march  from  Nashville  to 
Louisville,  our  wagons  were  all  left  behind,  and  all  the 
knapsacks  and  trunks  left  with  them.  Our  young  offi 
cers  had  lots  of  fine  clothes,  etc.,  in  their  trunks,  and 
our  soldiers  had  pants,  coats,  etc.,  in  their  knapsacks, 
which  were  all  left  and  consequently  lost,  and  now  they 
are  lamenting  their  heavy  losses.  I  had  nothing  of 
the  sort.  The  clothes  on  my  back — two  shirts  and  two 
or  three  pair  of  socks — was  all  I  had,  and  of  course  I 
brought  them  with  me  and  lost  nothing;  consequently 
did'nt  care  a  snap  about  the  w7agons,  and  now  one  little 
handkerchief  will  hold  all  my  worldly  goods,  and  I  am 
as  happy  as — a  fish  on  dry  land.  So  I  say,  blessed  be 
nothing." 

On  the  morning  of  the  26th  the  brigade  moved  out  for 
Lebanon  ;  passing  through  Lebanon,  it  took  the  direct 
road  for  Bowling  Green,  where  it  arrived  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  4th  of  November.  In  the  meantime  Gen 
eral  Rosecranz,  succeeding  Buell  in  command,  had 
arrived  at  Bowling  Green,  and  was  personally  inspect 
ing  and  forwarding  the  different  divisions  on  towards 
Nashville  as  fast  as  they  arrived. 

General  Jeff.  C.  Davis,  having  been  released  from 
arrest,  for  shooting  General  Nelson,  also  arrived  here 
and  assumed  command  of  his  division. 

Here,  too,  the  Fifty-Ninth  received  an  unlooked  for 
acquisition,  in  the  shape  of  an  Assistant  Surgeon  from 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  175 

Knoxville,  Illinois.  Charles  Buuce  reported  himself 
for  duty  as  a  commissioned  Surgeon  of  the  Fifty-Ninth 
Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  somewhat  to  the  aston- 

O  ' 

ishinent  of  the  men,  as  no  intimation  of  his  appoint 
ment  had  ever  reached  them.  It  would  naturally  be 
supposed  that  the  men  of  a  regiment  would  be  more 
deeply  interested  in  the  selection  of  a  proper  person  to 
look  after  the  health  than  any  others,  and  in  most  regi 
ments  they  have  the  selection  of  their  own  Surgeon, 
but  in  the  Fifty-]S"inth  it  seems  to  have  been  taken  for 
granted  that  the  men  were  mere  automat oms,  only  fit 
to  be  looked  after  as  a  lot  of  mules  should  be  in  corral. 
It  is  a  universally  admitted  fact  that  many  more  men 
die  in  the  army  from  other  causes,  than  those  produced 
by  the  shot  and  shell  of  the  enemy.  Some  would  fain 
believe  that  disease  alone  is  chargeable  with  this  fatal 
ity,  but  it  is  not  so.  A  large  majority  of  the  fatal  cases 
in  the  army  are,  without  a  doubt,  produced  by  the  mal 
practice  of  ignorant  young  men,  who,  th rough  the  in 
fluence  of  some  personal  friend,  receive  a  commission 
as  Surgeon.  Very  culpable  is  that  man  who  recom 
mends  to  the  position  of  Surgeon  a  man  entirely  unfit 
ted  for  the  place,  merely  because  he  is  a  personal  friend 
or  relative.  There  are  many  young  men  who  are  now 
tampering  with  the  lives  of  the  noble  soldier,  whose 
qualifications  are  only  such  as  they  have  acquired  in 
attendance  behind  the  counter  of  .some  one-horse  drug 

o 

stoi'e,  or  such  as  is  obtained  by  taking  care  of  some 
eminent  doctor's  horses.  There  is  no  other  position  in 
the  army  having  so  great  a  weight  of  responsibility 
attached  as  that  of  Surgeon,  and  there  is  no  other  posi 
tion  filled  with  so  little  regard  to  qualification  as  this 
one.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  more  care  may  be  bestowed 
by  those  in  authority  in  ascertaining  the  qualifications 


176       FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

of  those  sent  to  preserve  the  health  and  lives  of  the 
soldiers. 

Leaving  Bowling  Green  the  regiment  passes  over 
the  same  road  it  had  traversed  about  a  month  before, 
and  arrives  at  Edgefield  on  the  evening  of  the  7th  of 
November,  1862.  The  only  incident  of  note  on  the 
march  was  the  burning,  by  the  "Louisville  Legion," 
of  two  large  residences,  from  the  windows  of  which 
they  had  been  shot  at  while  passing  towards  Nashville 
on  their  former  visit,  and  the  capturing  of  eleven  pris 
oners,  by  our  advanced  skirmishers,  on  the  morning  of 
the  6th. 

The  distance  from  Crab  Orchard  to  Nashville,  via 
the  route  marched,  is  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  miles. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 


The  morning  of  the  8th  of  November  broke  clear 
and  frosty  over  the  tired  and  sleepy  soldiers  of  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland.  The  town  clock  of  Nash 
ville  failed  to  wake  them  at  the  proper  time  for  revielle, 
and  the  fife  and  drum  kept  silence  until  the  sun  had 
sent  his  piercing  rays  into  many  a  sleeper's  face.  Anon 
the  drums  begin  to  sound  the  signal  for  the  morning 
roll  call,  and  now  the  scene  is  changed.  Men  are  seen 
in  all  directions  creeping  out  from  under  blankets,  wet 
with  melting  frost — some  in  full  uniform,  having  slept 
all  night  in  full  dress;  some  half  undressed,  and  some 
old  veterans  falling  in  for  roll  call  with  coat  and  pants 
both  off.  The  custom  in  camp  is  to  put  on  extra  duty 
all  who  fail  to  answer  at  roll  call. 

Early  in  the  forenoon,  Colonel  Frederick,  who  has 
regained  his  health  and  is  now  with  the  regiment,  re 
ceived  orders  to  establish  his  regiment  in  camp.  Col 
onel  Frederick  delighted  in  having  order  and  neatness 
through  his  camping  grounds,  and  consequently  always 
superintended  the  pitching  of  tents  and  policing  the 
camps  himself. 

The  ground  on  which  the  tents  were  to  be  pitched, 
was  a  rolling  piece  of  land,  belonging  to  an  old  secesh, 
and  delightfully  situated  for  a  camp.  It  was  about  half 
a  mile  from  Edgetield,  which  is  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Cumberland  River,  immediately  opposite  the  city  of 
Nashville,  was  well  shaded  by  several  large  forest  trees, 
(12)  <177) 


ITS  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

and  covered  nicely  by  a  good  coating  of  blue  grass. 
The  river  affords  a  good  supply  of  water,  and  several 
springs  are  close  at  hand. 

The  tents  are  pitched  something  after  military  regu 
lations,  but  not  exact.  The  Colonel  selecting  the  posi 
tion  of  the  tents  to  suit  his  fancy.  The  soldiers'  tents 
are  pitched  in  line  by  companies.  First  is  company  A, 
at  the  right  of  the  regiment;  next  in  order  is  company 
B.;  next,  C,  and  so  on  down  to  company  K,  on  the  left. 
The  company  tents  are  set  in  line,  one  behind  the  other, 
with  a  space  of  thirty  feet  between  the  companies.  In 
front  of  these  are  the  tents  of  the  commanders  of  com 
panies;  each  Captain  thirty  feet  in  front  of  his  com 
pany.  Thirty  feet  in  front  of  these  again,  are  the  tents 
of  the  field  and  staff  officers.  When  regularly  pitched, 
and  with  clean  white  tents,  the  appearance  is  quite 
^pretty.  Each  regiment  has  its  own  separate  grounds, 
in  connection  with  its  own  brigade.  A  brigade  consists 
of  four  regiments  and  a  battery,  and  covers  several 
acres. 

Now,  then,  what  is  the  daily  occupation  of  the  in 
habitants  of  these  tents?  Persons  not  in  the  secret 
might  suppose  that  there  was  nothing  to  do  but  eat  and 
sleep,  and  amusement  generally.  But  not  so.  In  the 
morning  at  four  or  five  o'clock,  revielle  is  sounded  by 
the  drums  and  fife.  This  notifies  the  sleeper  that  he 
must  get  up  and  answer  to  his  name  at  roll  call.  The 
Orderly  Sergeant  calls  the  roll,  in  the  presence  of  some 
one  of  the  commissioned  officers  of  the  company.  Fires 
are  now  kindled,  and  each  one  prepares  his  own  break 
fast.  After  breakfast  the  "sick  call"  is  sounded.  The 
Orderly  Sergeant  then  reports  all  the  sick  men  in  his 
company  to  the  Doctor.  Sometimes  there  are  twenty 
or  thirty  brought  to  him  for  examination  and  medicine. 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEER'S.  179 

Those  who  are  really  sick,  the  Doctor  excuses  from  do 
ing  any  duty  that  day,  so  that  he  may  lay  around  at 
his  leisure  and  get  well ;  or,  perhaps,  he  is  retained  at 
the  hospital,  where  he  can  be  nursed  and  have  medicine 
given  him. 

At  eight  o'clock  comes  guard  mounting — that  is, 
placing  guards  around  the  camp,  so  that  soldiers  can't 
leave  camp  without  a  pass  or  written  permit  from  the 
Colonel.  These  guards  are  stationed  all  around  camp 
at  certain  intervals,  and  must  continually  walk  back 
and  forth  from  one  station  to  the  other,  so  that  they 
can  see  any  one  who  tries  to  pass  out.  One  man  walks 
two  hours,  then  another  relieves  him.  This  set  of 
guards  remain  on  duty  for  twenty-four  hours.  New 
guards  are  mounted  every  morning.  After  guard  mount 
ing,  extra-duty  men  are  usually  set  to  work  sweeping 
the  grounds.  By  the  time  this  is  done,  dinner  is  to  be 
prepared.  In  the  afternoon,  the  men  are  taken  out  on 
battalion  drill,  usually  from  two  o'clock  until  four. 
Then  supper.  After  this  comes  dress  parade.  At  sun 
down  the  drums  beat  retreat.  At  eight,  tattoo;  and  at 
nine,  all  becomes  quiet — the  day's  work  is  done.  This 
is  the  daily  employment  of  the  soldier  in  camp.  But 
there  is  some  other  work  that  has  to  be  attended  to, 
such  as  going  out  on  picket,  for  instance,  one  company 
or  a  part  of  a  company,  is  sent  out  a  mile  or  two  from 
camp,  to  stay  for  twenty-four  hours,  so  that  an  enemy 
may  not  make  a  surprise  on  the  camp.  There  is,  also, 
other  work  to  be  done,  such  as  drawing  rations,  getting 
wood,  washing  clothes,  &c.  The  soldier's  life  is  not  an 
idle  one. 

"While  the  regiment  lay  at  Florence,  Ala.,  several 
contrabands  came  to  camp  and  engaged  themselves  as 
servants  to  the  officers ;  amongst  them  were  two  females. 


180  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

One  of  these  soon  donned  the  habiliments  of  ti  soldier. 
In  this  garb  she  marched  with  the  regiment  until  now. 
On  the  evening  of  the  7th,  when  coming  into  camp,  she 
incidentally  passed  through  the  yard  of  the  planter, 
close  to  the  chicken  roost.  The  guard  stationed  there 
supposed  that  she  was  after  some  of  the  feathered  tribe, 
and  ordered  her  to  halt.  Not  supposing  the  order  ad 
dressed  to  her,  she  paid  no  attention  to  it,  and  was 
passing  on,  when  the  guard  fired,  shooting  her  in  the 
"seat  of  honor."  The  guard  did  not  suspect  he  was 
shootiDg  a  woman;  but  supposed  her  to  be  some  thiev 
ing  buck  negro.  She  wras  taken  to  camp,  and  now  JDr. 
B-unce  had  the  opportunity  of  performing  his  first  sur 
gical  operation.  The  wound  was  merely  a  flesh  wound, 
and  the  most  difficult  part  of  the  operation  was  the 
examination,  in  the  presence  of  several  unfeeling  wit 
nesses.  The  Doctor  soon  applied  the  dressing — very 
neatly,  considering  the  circumstances — and  then  left 
nature  to  perform  the  healing. 

On  the  30th  the  Division  crossed  the  river,  and 
pitched  tents  again,  south  of  Nashville.  An  extract 
from  the  author's  diary,  of  the  5th  December,  says: 

"We  are  still  in  camp,  four  miles  south  of  town,  and 
nothing,  as  yet,  indicating  a  move.  Our  pleasant 
weather  has  gone,  'glimmering  among  the  dream  of 
things  that  were,'  and  now  we  are  wrapping  our  blan 
kets  and  over-coats  around  us  to  keep  out  the  chilling 
north  winds,  and  to  protect  us  from  the  driving  snow. 
To-day  the  snow  has  been  filling  the  air  with  its  downy 
flakes,  and  covering  the  earth  and  trees  with  a  beauti 
ful  garment  of  white.  This  is  the  second  time  since 
last  winter  that  the  earth  has  been  clothed  in  a  symbol 
of  purity.  There  are,  however,  but  slight  indications 
of  its  continuing  in  that  gait  long,  for  even  now  rents 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  181 

are  perceivable,  through  which  its  nakedness  is  mani 
fest.  The  warmth  of  the  ground  is  too  great  for  the 
snow's  frail  fabric,  and  not  long  can  it  resist  the  heat 
ing  influence.  Perhaps  by  to-morrow's  eve  it  will  have 
returned  to  its  native  element,  and  disappeared.  Snow 
in  the  Northern  States,  when  the  ground  is  hard 
frozen,  is  a  great  benefit  to  the  farmer  in  protecting  his 
small  grain;  but  in  the  South,  where  it  falls  one  day 
and  disappears  the  next,  is  of  little  profit,  yet  it  is  not 
without  its  use,  as  there  is  no  providential  occurrence 
without  some  good  result." 

The  diary  continues : 

"6th — Another  morning  has  dawned,  bright  and 
cold.  After  the  snow-storm,  yesterday,  the  clouds 
passed  away,  and  the  night  set  in  with  a  clear  sky  and 
brilliant  moon,  and  stars  innumerable.  This  morning 
the  snow  is  crackling  under  feet,  and  glistening  in  the 
sun-beams  splendidly.  It  is  the  coldest  morning  of  the 
season,  but  old  Sol  will  soon  warm  the  atmosphere  to  a 
pleasant  temperature.  The  woodman's  axe  is  ringing 
merrily  in  all  directions.  The  soldiers  are  busy  cutting 
down  the  trees  for  wood,  that  they  may  have  warm 
fires  to  stay  by  these  cold  mornings.  In  a  very  short 
time  this  noble  grove  will  be  all  destroyed.  *  Wood 
man,  spare  that  tree/  is  not  the  motto  here.  The  de 
light  of  the  soldier  seems  to  be,  to  lay  the  monarch  of 
the  forest  low,  in  this  secesh  country. 

"One  old  lady,  on  whose  premises  we  camped  one 
day,  exclaimed : 

"'Good  Lord!  are  they  going  to  cut  all  our  trees?' 

"Her  husband  was  in  the  rebel  army,  and  her  trees 
were  not  spared.  Before  the  army  left,  stumps  alone 
remained  to  tell  the  fate  of  that  splendid  grove — a 
grove,  of  which  the  old  lady  had  been  proud  for  many 


182  FIFTY-NINXH   REGIMENT 

years,  and  with  which  she  was  very  loth  to  part.  Her 
children,  and  her  grand  children,  had  delighted  her  old 
heart  many  times  with  their  childish  gambols,  under 
tho-se  noble  shade-trees;  but,  alas,  and  alack!  they 
are  gone  now;  and  the  grass  that  is  no\v  so  green  and 
bright  will  be  all  withered  and  browned  by  the  scorch 
ing  rays  of  the  sun.  The  next  generation  will  have  to 
play  in  the  sunshine,  or  seek  some  other  grove  in  which 
to  sport.  It  will  not  be  so  bad  for  the  little  woolly- 
headed  darkies,  as  their  complexion  is  but  little  affected 
by  the  tanning  influence  of  the  sun;  but  the  fair  skin 
of  the  white  children  will  suffer. 

"7th  December,  1862— This  is  a  cold,  bright  Sabbath. 
Winter  is  here  in  earnest.  We  in  camp  are  well  pre 
pared  for  cold  weather.  The  boys  have  plenty  of  good, 
warm  clothing,  and  blankets,  over-coats  and  tents,  and, 
if  they  suffer,  it  will  be  because  they  will  not  get  wood 
for  their  fires. 

"  December  8th — The  snow  has  all  disappeared,  but 
the  weather  is  still  cold.  The  paymaster  has  been  pay 
ing  off'  a  part  of  the  regiment  to-day.  Company  F 
fails  to  get  pay  because  of  having  no  pay  rolls.  Cap 
tain  Currie,  who  has  lately  been  transferred  to  the  gun 
boat  service,  left  the  regiment  a  few  days  ago,  and  car 
ried  the  rolls  along  with  him,  very  much  to  the  incon 
venience  of  the  company.  Lieutenant  Maddox  is  now 
in  command  of  the  company. 

"December  9th — It  yet  continues  most  charming 
winter  weather.  In  fact  it  more  resembles  early  spring 
than  winter. 

"Something  is  now  going  on  four  or  five  miles  from 
here.  'What  it  is  we  do  not  know;  but  the  reports 
from  secesh  cannon  indicate  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy, 
some  foraging  party  being  resisted  in  their  dcpreda- 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  183 

tions.  The  regiment  is  going  out  on  a  scout  of  a  few 
hours,  and  will  ascertain,  perhaps,  what  that  cannon 
ading  means.  I  think  it  is  quite  time  that  Rosec-ranz 
was  doing  something.  One  month  has  passed  since  we 
arrived  at  Nashville,  and  no  advance  has  yet  been 
made.  Why  remain  idle  so  long?  The  men  are  all 
anxious  to  move  forward,  and  do  something  towards 
terminating  the  war.  Better  die  fighting  the  enemy 
than  linger  out  a  miserable  existence  in  camp. 

"8  o'clock — The  regiment  has  just  returned  to  camp, 
without  learning  anything  of  the  cannonading.  They 
bring  no  spoils  of  victory,  except  one  or  two  contra 
band  hogs,  and  a  few  chickens. 

"December  10th — Reveille  sounded  in  the  old  camp 
this  morning  at  two  o'clock,  and  at  five  we  moved  out 
on  the  march.  Our  course  was  taken  due  east  from 
camp,  as  could  be  known  by  the  redness  of  the  horizon, 
indicating  the  point  at  which  the  'God  of  day'  would 
first  make  his  appearance.  The  morning  was  cool  and 
bracing,  and  the  boys  put  out  with  a  will,  being  also 
encouraged  by  a  prospect  of  a  fight  with  the  enemy,  as 
it  was  rumored  that  that  was  the  object  of  the  march. 
The  march  continued  about  five  miles,  and  terminated 
by  our  gt)ing  into  camp  here.  We  are,  perhaps,  a  little 
nearer  the  enemy  than  we  were  this  morning,  but  have 
only  changed  our  position  in  relation  to  Nashville.  We 
are  nowr  more  directly  between  Nashville  and  Murfrees- 
boro' — four  miles  from  the  former,  and  twenty-six 
from  the  latter — about  two  miles  west  of  the  pike  lead 
ing  to  Murfreesboro'.  This  State,  as  well  as  Kentucky, 
is  abundantly  supplied  with  macadamized  roads.  Stone 
is  easily  procured,  and  has  been  unsparingly  used  for 
road  purposes. 

"It  is  now  about  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 


184  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

llth  of  December.  '  Early  to  bed  and  early  to  rise ' 
is  an  example  set  by  all  who  have  ever  made  any  great 
progress  in  the  world,  and  this  morning  I  have  followed 
it.  Early  rising  is  pretty  generally  practiced  in  the 
army,  especially  by  the  privates;  the  officers,  having 
attained  to  all  they  desire,  sleep  till  surfeited. 

"  This  is  a  lovely  morning,  just  such  an  one  as  would 
suit  me  at  home.  Oh,  how  much  I  would  enjoy  home 
this  morning !  The  Christian,  who  has  resigned  his 
claim  to  all  earthly  things,  and  transferred  his  treasures 
to  the  'better  land,'  alone  can  tell  the  feelings  of  a  sol 
dier  when  he  indulges  in  the  thoughts  of  home.  Home, 
to  the  soldier,  is  as  the  treasure-house  above  to  the 
Christian,  for  where  the  treasures  are  there  will  the  heart 
be  also.  'Home,  sweet  home,  there  is  no  place  like 
home.'  'Oh,  dark  is  how  my  heart  grows  weary,  far 
from  my  good  old  home.'  Shall  I  never  more  behold 
it?  Never  again  look  upon  the  bright  and  cheerful 
faces  of  those  I  left  behind  me  there  ?  Yes,  I  fancy 
that  I  shall,  but  the  time  seems  long — seems  very  long. 

""Well,  I  have  just  returned  from  a  walk  I  have  been 
taking,  out  beyond  the  camp,  and  there  the  birds  bid 
me  be  of  good  cheer.  They  sang,  'When  the  spring 
time  comes,'  you  may  with  us  go  back  to  your  north 
ern  home,  and  we'll  spend  the  summer  together  there. 
I  blessed  the  little  songsters,  and  came  back  to  camp 
more  resigned  and  cheerful.  Now  the  day  is  num 
bered  amongst  those  that  were  before  the  flood,  and 
a  'wee  bit'  candle  is  all  the  light  I  have  to  see  by. 

"About  half  a  mile  from  camp  is  a  large  cane  brake, 
or  cane  thicket.  The  cane  stands  so  thick  on  the  ground 
that  a  hare  could  not  pass  between  them,  only  in  places 
where  they  had  been  cut  or  broken  down.  They  are 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  in  length;  they  are  now  in 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  185 

thick  foliage;  the  leaves  are  as  green  as  in  the  summer 
time;  it  is  quite  cheering  to  look  at  them.  The  little 
birds  come  from  miles  away  to  sleep  among  the  thick 
leaves;  it  is  so  much  warmer  for  them  than  on  the 
branches  of  the  big  leafless  trees  of  the  forest.  Here 
the  cold  wind  or  the  sharp  frost  can  not  penetrate;  but 
the  innocent  little  creatures  had  better  run  the  risk  of 
being  frozen  than  seek  shelter  here  at  this  time,  for 
every  night  hundreds  of  them  are  sacrificed  to  the 
rapacity  of  the  ruthless  soldier.  The  boys  take  can 
dles  and  torches,  and  by  clazzlhig  their  eyes  with  the 
bright  light,  pick  them  from  their  perches  without  dif 
ficulty,  or  knock  them  off  with  sticks  do  they  try  to 
escape.  The  birds  are  principally  the  red-breasted 
robbin,  but  there  are  other  smaller  ones  of  different 
kinds.  Pot-pie  is  a  common n  dish  in  camp  now. 

"December  12th — The  mail  comes  regularly  to  camp 
now,  bringing  letters  from  the  dear  ones  at  home.  Good, 
kind,  cheering  letters  some  of  them  are  too.  I  just  had 
the  pleasure  of  reading  one  from  a  good  old  mother  in 
Illinois  to  her  noble  boy  in  the  army.  Such  loring, 
cheering  words — such  good  advice.  The  boy's  heart 
was  softened,  ennobled,  elevated.  There  is  no  danger 
of  his  becoming  wicked  so  long  as  that  kind  mother 
continues  her  controlling  influence  over  him.  Would 
that  there  were  more  such  mothers  in  Illinois !  If  there 
were  there  would  be  much  less  wickedness  manifested 
in  the  army  of  the  Cumberland.  ISTo  one  can  estimate 
the  restraining  influence  of  an  affectionate  letter  from 
a  beloved  mother,  or  a  kind  friend,  to  the  young  sol 
dier.  I  fancy  that  I  can  go  through  our  regiment  and 
point  out  every  young  man  who  has  a  good  family  at 
home,  or  a  pious  loving  mother  who  devotes  a  portion 
of  her  time  in  writing  to  her  soldier  boy  in  the  army. 


186  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

Richly  will  she  be  rewarded  for  labor  thus  spent.  The 
soldier  is  constantly  exposed  to  peculiar  temptations, 
and  needs  all  the  restraining  influences  that  can  be 
thrown  around  him,  and  there  can  be  none  more  re 
straining  than  the  admonitions  of  an  absent,  loving 
mother. 

j  "December  22d — The  weather  continues  most  de 
lightful.  We  are  under  marching  orders.  The  tents 
are  all  struck  and  loaded  in  the  wagons.  The  sick 
have  all  been  sent  back  to  Nashville  to  remain  in  hos 
pital  until  their  health  becomes  restored,  or  they  are 
transported  to  that  bourne  from  whence  no  traveler  re 
turns. 

"Mason  Campbell,  of  Company  B,  was  under  treat 
ment  at  the  regimental  hospital  three  days  before  being 
sent  to  Nashville.  The  most  energetic  treatment  was 
pursued  in  his  case — about  five  grains  of  calomel  being 
given  him  every  three  hours  for  three  days,  making,  in 
all,  one  hundred  and  twenty  grains,  and  no  motion  from 
the  bowels  during  the  time;  with  all  this  he  was  sent 
to  Nashville  and  died. 

"December  25 — Here  we  are  in  camp  again.  After 
loading  our  traps  in  the  wagons  we  lay  around  promis 
cuously  until  yesterday  noon,  when  we  marched  about 
five  miles  towards  Nolensville,  right  about  faced,  and 
marched  back  again  to  the  very  spot  we  started  from. 
"  Strategy,  my  boy  !  " 

"  Occasional  reports  from  artillery  have  been  heard 
out  in  front  to-day,  and  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  they 
were  the  harbingers  of  a  battle  shortly  to  take  place. 

"One  of  the  boys  deserted  from  the  regiment  last 
night,  and  it  is  supposed  he  has  gone  over  to  the  rebels. 
He  wras  tied  up  yesterday  for  leaving  camp  without  first 
getting  a  pass.  He  slipped  the  guards  and  visited  Nash- 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  187 

ville,  where  be  remained  all  night.  When  he  came 
back  he  was  arrested  by  the  Captain  of  his  company 
and  tied  by  both  hands  to  the  lower  limbs  of  a  tree, 
where  he  was  kept  some  two  hours  or  more.  This 
morning  he  is  missing.  There  are  various  ways  of 
punishing  men  in  the  army.  Some  are  tied  up,  either 
with  their  arms  encircling  the  trunk  of  a  large  tree,  or 
with  their  hands  high  above  their  heads.  Some  are 
made  to  pack  rails  on  their  shoulder  with  a  guard  fol 
lowing  them,  for  two  or  three  hours  at  a  time. 

"One  young  man  was  paraded  through  camp  one  day 
with  both  hands  tied  fast  to  a  single-tree,  hitched  be 
hind  a  mule;  a  man  was  riding  the  mule;  two  guards 
with  fixed  bayonets  marching  beside  the  captive,  and 
the  fife  and  drum  beating  the  rogues  march  behind. 

"Sometimes  the  punishment  consists  in  having  a 
board  strapped  to  the  back,  with  large  letters  in  chalk, 
stating  the  offense,  and  being  marched  around  through 
camp. 

"In  some  cases  it  seems  to  be  necessary  not  only  to 
bind  the  hands  but  to  tie  the  tongue  also.  This  is  done 
by  forcing  some  substance  into  the  mouth  so  as  to  keep 
the  jaws  separated.  The  practice  of  this  sort  of  pun 
ishment  by  one  of  the  officers  gave  him  the  name  of 
4 Buck  and  Gag.'" 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


On  the  morning  of  the  27th,  every  thing  being  in 
readiness,  the  division  moved  out,  taking  the  direction 
of  Nolinsville,  which  is  nine  miles  from  camp.  The  day 
was  not  so  pleasant  as  was  desirable,  but  the  men  were 
willing  to  march,  and  did  not  mind  the  rain  and  mud 
to  be  encountered. 

Lieut.  Colonel  Frederick  started  out  with  the  regi 
ment  in  the  morning,  but  having  poor  health,  soon  fell 
back  to  an  ambulance  and  returned  to  Nashville.  Major 
Winters  was  at  home,  on  leave  of  absence,  and  Captain 
Hale,  the  ranking  Captain  in  the  regiment,  was  also  ab 
sent.  The  command,  therefore,  fell  to  the  lot  of  Cap 
tain  Paine,  of  company  B.  Captain  Paine  was  a  strict 
disciplinarian,  and  commanded  one  of  the  best  drilled 
companies  in  the  regiment.  His  strict  discipline  and 
peculiar  way  of  punishing  his  men,  had  procured  for 
him  the  name  of  "Buck  and  Gag."  Captain  James  M, 
Stookey,  being  the  next  ranking  Captain  assumed  the 
position  of  Major.  By  this  arrangement,  company  B 
was  left  to  the  command  of  First  Lieutenant  J.  11. 
Johnson,  and  company  E,  to  the  command  of  Lieuten 
ant  Goodin. 

Soon  after  leaving  camp,  the  Fifty-Ninth  was  sent  in 
advance  as  skirmishers.  They  soon  came  across  the 
rebel  pickets  and  began  skirmishing.  As  the  Fifty- 
Ninth  advanced,  the  rebels  in  front  of  them  fell  back 
to  the  town  of  Nolensville,  where  it  seems  they  intended 

(188)" 


FIFTY-NINTH     REGIMENT   ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.       189 

to  more  severely  contest  the  ground.  Here  they  had  a 
battery  planted,  and  threw  several  shells  at  our  men 
before  they  could  get  one  in  position  to  reply.  As  soon, 
however,  as  a  shot  or  two  was  fired  from  a  twelve 
pounder,  placed  in  range,  the  rebels  withdrew  on  double 
quick,  and  the  Fifty-Xinth  took  possession  of  the  town. 
As  the  regiment  was  advancing  across  an  open  com 
mon,  between  the  woods  and  town,  a  volley  was  fired 
at  one  of  the  companies  from  the  windows  of  a  large 
frame  house,  in  front  of  them,  without  doing  any  in 
jury.  Colonel  Pease,  of  General  Davis'  staff,  saw  the 
shooting,  and  being  close  to  one  of  our  guns,  ordered 
the  cannoneer  to  plant  a  shell  into  the  house.  This 
gun  had  been  instrumental  in  silencing  the  rebel  bat 
tery,  and  was  within  good  range  of  the  house.  The 
first  shell  exploded  within  one  of  the  upper  rooms,  do 
ing  wonderful  execution  among  the  furniture  and  tear 
ing  the  plastering  and  casing  into  a  thousand  frag 
ments.  This  brought  the  rebs  to  light,  and  a  volley 
from  the  company  sent  them  howling  to  the  woods. 
The  second  shell  passed  through  the  hen  house,  scat 
tering  chickens  and  feathers  in  all  directions,  and  con 
tinuing  on  its  course,  burst  in  the  rear  of  the  fleeing 
rebels.  The  town  was  now  in  possession  of  the  Fifty- 
JSfinth,  but  to  the  right  heavy  skirmishing  continued, 
and  the  regiment  passed  on  in  that  direction.  Heavy 
skirmishing  continued  until  the  enemy  were  driven  to 
the  opposite  side  of  "Big  Gap,"  about  four  miles  south 
of  Kolensville.  Darkness  now  prevented  any  further 
pursuit,  and  the  army  went  into  bivouac.  The  loss  in 
the  division  was  light,  the  Fifty-Ninth  not  having  a 
man  hurt.  Several  of  the  enemy  were  killed  and  a  few 
taken  prisoners. 

Colonel  Pease,  while  setting  on  his  horse,  directing 


190  FIFTY-NINTH   KEGIMENT 

the  cannoneer,  was  hit  on  the  leg  by  a  minnie  ball, 
which  passed  through  his  pants,  just  creasing  the  flesh. 
"That's  pretty  close/'  remarked  the  Colonel,  and  con 
tinued  his  directions  without  any  farther  notice  of  the 
flying  missiles. 

The  regiment  here  lost  another  man  by  desertion,  or 
rather  gained  the  room  and  rations  of  a  worthless, 
thieving  Frenchman.  He  was  a  member  of  company 
G,  and  had  frequently  offended  by  disobeying  orders  in 
regard  to  straggling,  particularly  in  times  of  danger. 
There  are  a  few  men  in  all  regiments  who,  whenever 
there  is  a  prospect  of  a  fight  "play  off"  either  by  feign 
ing  sickness,  or  by  slipping  from  the  ranks  on  some 
trivial  pretence,  and  dropping  to  the  rear,  there  to 
remain  until  the  danger  is  all  over.  This  fellow  of  a 
Frenchman,  had  practiced  this  habitually,  and  now  the 
Captain  determined  to  punish  him.  This  he  did  by 
tying  him  up.  In  a  short  time  thereafter,  the  fellow 
managed  to  loosen  the  cords  that  bound  him  and  make 
his  escape.  Pursuit  was  immediately  made  and  an  ex 
citing  chase  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  the  pursuers.  It 
is  supposed  the  fellow  fled  to  the  rebel  lines,  and  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  all  sneaks  who  will  fall  back  to  the  rear, 
to  places  of  safety,  when  their  friends  and  companions 
in  arms  are  in  danger,  will  follow  his  example,  and  cast 
their  lot  with  traitors. 

The  morning  of  the  27th  was  so  murky,  that  an 
enemy  could  not  be  seen  at  any  distance,  and  conse 
quently  the  troops  did  not  move  until  the  fog  had  dis 
appeared  in  rain  drops.  About  nine  o'clock,  the  skir 
mishers  were  advanced  and  continued  moving  forward 
until  evening,  without  meeting  with  any  serious  resist 
ance.  The  Fifty-Ninth  followed  in  regular  marching 
order  for  six  or  eight  miles,  and  went  into  bivouac. 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  191 

The  28th  being  Sunday,  the  army  lay  in  camp  all  day. 
General  Rosecranz  was  religiously  opposed  to  moving 
his  army  on  the  Sabbath,  unless  unavoidable.  All 
honor  and  praise  to  him  for  setting  such  a  noble  exam 
ple.  Success  will  ever  attend  the  General  who  pays  due 
respect  to  the  command,  "  Remember  the  Sabbath  day 
to  keep  it  holy." 

This  morning  the  Acting  Adjutant,  Hale  Phillips — 
Adjutant  West  being  on  Colonel  Post's  brigade  staff — 
and  the  Commissary  Sergeant,  Thomas  J.  Melvin,  ob 
tained  permission  to  return  to  Nashville  on  business. 
On  their  way  they  overtook  the  train  a  few  miles  from 
Nashville.  With  the  train  was  Captain  Clayton  Hale 
and  Lieutenant  Fred.  Brasher,  Quartermaster:  the  for 
mer  returning  to  the  regiment  from  a  leave  of  absence, 
and  the  latter  in  charge  of  the  train.  Very  soon  after 
the  Adjutant  and  Commissary  arrived  at  the  train,  and 
before  they  had  dismounted  from  their  horses  they  were 
surrounded  by  a  large  squad  of  rebel  cavalry  and  all 
taken  prisoners.  Resistance  was  useless,  as  there  was 
no  guard  with  the  train,  and  consequently  they  surren 
dered  without  an  effort  to  escape.  They  were  treated 
very  kindly  by  their  captors — paroled  and  allowed  to 
proceed  to  Nashville.  From  Nashville  they  visited 
their  homes,  and  had  a  good  time  of  it  generally,  until 
they  were  exchanged. 

On  Monday  morning,  December  29th,  the  army  was 
again  put  in  motion.  General  Davis,  taking  the  ad 
vance  of  General  McCook's  corps,  with  his  division, 
turned  from  the  Noleusville  pike,  in  an  easterly  direc 
tion,  towards  Murfreesboro'.  The  writer  was  fortunate 
enough  to  witness  the  passing  of  this  corps,  as  it  pro 
ceeded  to  the  lane  at  which  it  left  the  pike.  First  came 
General  Jeff.  C.  Davis  and  staff,  immediately  followed 


192  FIFTY-NINTH   KEGIMENT 

by  a  body  guard  of  one  company  of  cavalry.  Next  fol 
lowed  Colonel  P.  Sidney  Post,  commanding  brigade, 
with  his  staff,  and  then  the  four  regiments  of  his  brig 
ade,  closely  followed  by  a  six  gun  battery.  Then  fol 
lowed  the  other  brigades  in  the  same  order.  While  the 
column  was  passing,  General  McCook  and  staff  came 
dashing  by  in  magnificent  style*  They  came,  they  were 
seen,  and  they  were  gone.  General  McCook  is  a  good 
commander,  hut  like  most  of  his  rank,  he  prides  him 
self  on  being  General  McCook.  While  looking  at  this 
well  appointed  corps,  the  heart  swelled  with  emotions 
of  pride,  to  think  that  there  were  so  many  noble- 
hea-rted  men  willing  and  eager  to  meet  in  deadly  con 
test  the  enemy  who  were  attempting  to  destroy  their 
country. 

The  29th  and  30th  were  spent  in  reconnoitering  and 
skirmishing  with  the  enemy,  General  Davis'  Division 
terminating  its  movements  by  getting  into  position 
Tuesday  evening,  on  the  left  of  McCook's  command, 
near  Wilkerson's  Creek.  The  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois 
Regiment  occupied  the  left  of  Colonel  P.  Sidney  Post's 
brigade,  and  the  extreme  left  of  the  right  wing  of  the 
army.  The  enemy  had  fallen  back  to  their  chosen 
position,  about  two  miles  from  Murfreesboro',  and  the 
Fifty-Ninth  Illinois  lay  on  the  ground  all  Tuesday 
night,  within  five  hundred  yards  of  their  line  of  battle 
The  night  was  quite  cold,  and  the  ground  saturated 
with  water.  Without  blankets  or  fires,  the  men  shiv 
ered  through  the  night.  Company  G,  commanded  by 
Captain  Starkey,  was  stationed  to  the  right  of  the  regi 
ment,  and  somewhat  in  advance,  as  picket-guard.  This 
continued  the  position  of  the  regiment  until  the  rebels 
made  the  attack,  Wednesday  morning. 

General  Rosecranz  marched   from   Nashville,    with 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  193 

forty-five  thousand  men,  and  one  hundred  and  two 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  skirmished  all  the  way  to  the 
battle  field,  the  enemy  resisting  bitterly.  The  whole 
of  Tuesday  was  spent  in  reconnoiteriug.  The  enemy 
was  found  strongly  posted,  with  artillery,  in  a  bend  of 
Stone  River,  his  flanks  resting  on  the  west  side  of  Mur- 
freesboro'. 

The  center  also  had  the  advantage  of  high  ground 
with  a  dense  growth  of  cedar  masking  them  completelly. 
Their  position  gave  them  the  advantage  of  a  cross  fire, 
and  General  McCook's  Corps  closed  in  their  left  on 
Wilkerson's  Creek.  Negley,  of  Thomas'  Corps,  worked, 
with  great  difficulty,  to  the  front  of  the  rebel  center. 
Rousseau's  Division  was  in  reserve.  Critteuden's 
Corps  was  posted  on  the  comparatively  clear  ground 
on  the  left,  Palmer's  and  Van  Cleve's  Divisions  in 
front,  in  the  woods,  and  held  in  reserve. 

A  battle  was  expected  all  day  Tuesday,  but  the 
enemy  merely  skirmished  and  threw  a  few  shells,  one 
of  which  killed  Orderly  McDonald,  of  the  Fourth  United 
States  Cavalry,  not  ten  feet  from  General  Rosecranz. 
That  afternoon  the  Anderson  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  on 
McCook's  flank,  was  drawn  into  an  ambuscade,  and  its 
two  Majors  (Rosengarten  and  Ward)  were  killed. 

Crittenden's  Corps  lost  four  killed  and  two  wounded 
that  day,  including  Adjutant  Elliott,  of  the  Fifty-Sev 
enth  Indiana,  severely  wounded.  McCook's  loss  was 
about  fifty.  The  same  day  the  rebel  cavalry  made  a 
dash  on  our  rear,  at  Lavergue,  burned  a  few  wagons, 
and  captured  thirty-five  prisoners.  That  night  disposi 
tions  were  made  to  attack  the  enemy  in  the  morning. 
After  dark  the  enemy  were  reported  massing  upon 
McCook,  obviously  to  strike  our  right  wing.  This  cor 
responded  with  the  wishes  of  General  Rosecranz,  who 
,13) 


194  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT. 

instructed  General  McCook  to  hold  him  in  check  stub 
bornly,  while  the  left  wing  should  be  thrown  into  Mnr- 
freesboro',  behind  the  enemy. 

At  daybreak,  of  the  last  day  of  December,  everything 
appeared  working  well.  Battle  had  opened  on  our 
right,  and  our  left  wing  was  on  hand  at  seven  o'clock. 
Ominous  sounds  indicated  that  the  fire  was  approach 
ing  on  the  right.  Aides  were  dispatched  for  informa 
tion,  and  found  the  forests  full  of  flying  negroes,  with 
some  straggling  soldiers,  who  reported  whole  regiments 
falling  back  rapidly.  Meantime  one  of  McCook's  aides 
announced  to  General  Rosecranz  that  General  Johnson 
had  permitted  the  three  batteries  of  his  division  to  be 
captured  by  a  sudden  attack  of  the  enemy,  and  that 
that  fact  had  somewhat  demoralized  the  troope.  This 
was  obvious.  The  brave  General  Sill,  one  of  our  best 
officers,  was  killed,  General  Kirk  severely  wounded, 
and  General  Willich  killed  or  missing,  besides  other 
valuable  officers.  General  Rosecranz  sent  word,  press 
ing  General  McCook  to  hold  the  front,  and  he  would 
help  him.  It  would  all  work  right.  He  now  galloped 
to  the  front  of  Crittenden's  left,  with  his  Staff,  to  order 
the  line  of  battle,  when  the  enemy  opened  a  full  battery 
and  emptied  two  saddles  of  the  escort.  Van  Cleve's 
Division  was  sent  to  the  right,  Colonel  Beatty's  Brigade 
in  front.  The  fire  continued  to  approach  on  the  right 
with  alarming  rapidity,  extending  to  the  center,  and.it 
was  clear  that  the  right  was  doubling  upon  the  left. 
The  enemy  had  compelled  us  to  make  a  complete 
change  of  front  on  that  wing,  and  were  pressing  the 
center. 

General  Rosecranz,  with  splendid  daring,  dashed  into 
the  fire,  and  sent  his  Staff  along  the  lines,  started  Beat 
ty's  Brigade  forward,  some  six  batteries  opened,  and 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  195 

sustained  a  magnificent  fire.  Directly  a  tremendous 
shout  was  raised  along  the  whole  line.  The  enemy 
began  to  fall  back  rapidly.  The  General  himself  urged 
the  troops  forward.  The  rebels,  thoroughly  punished, 
were  driven  back  fully  a  mile.  The  same  splendid 
bravery  was  displayed  in  the  center,  and  the  whole  line 
advanced.  Meantime  the  enemy  made  formidable  de 
monstrations  on  our  left,  while  they  prepared  for 
another  onslaught  on  our  right.  Meantime  orders  had 
been  issued  to  move  our  left  upon  the  enemy.  Before 
they  had  time  to  execute  it,  they  burst  upon  our  center 
with  awful  fury,  and  it  began  to  break. 

Rousseau's  Divisions  were  carried  into  the  breach 
magnificently  by  their  glorious  leader,  and  the  enemy 
again  retreated  hastily  into  the  dense  cedar  thickets. 
Again  they  essayed  our  right,  and  again  were  driven 
back.  This  time  the  number  of  our  stragglers  was 
formidable,  and  the  prospect  wras  discouraging,  but 
there  was  no  panic.  The  General,  confident  of  suc 
cess,  continued  to  visit  every  part  of  the  field,  and,  with 
the  aid  of  Thomas,  McCook,  Crittenden  Rousseau, 
Negley  and  Wood,  the  tide  of  battle  was  again  turned. 

Early  in  the  day  we  were  seriously  embarrassed  by 
the  enterprise  of  rebel  cavalry,  who  made  some  serious 
dashes  upon  some  of  McCook's  ammunition  and  sub 
sistence  trains,  capturing  a  number  of  wagons,  and  ar 
tillery  ammunition  was  alarmingly  scarce.  At  one  time 
it  was  announced  that  not  a  single  wagon-load  of  it 
could  be  found.  Some  of  our  batteries  were  quiet,  on 
that  account.  This  misfortune  was  caused  by  the  cap 
ture  of  McCook's  trains.  About  two  o'clock  the  battle 
had  shifted  again,  from  right  to  left,  the  rebels  discov 
ering  the  impossibility  of  succeeding  in  their  main  de 
sign,  and  suddenly  massed  his  forces  on  the  left,  cross- 


196  FIFTY-NINTII   REGIMENT 

ing  the  river,  or  moving  under  high  bluffs,  from  his 
right,  and  for  about  two  hours  the  light  raged  with  un 
remitting  fury.  The  advantage  was  with  the  enemy 
for  a  considerable  length  of  time,  when  they  were 
checked  by  our  murderous  fire,  of  both  musketry  and 
artillery.  The  scene  at  this  point  was  magnificent  and 
terrible.  The  whole  battle  was  in  full  view,  the  enemy 
deploying  right  and  left,  bringing  up  their  batteries  in 
fine  style,  our  own  vomiting  smoke  and  missiles  upon 
them  with  awful  fury,  and  our  gallant  fellows  moving 
to  the  front  with  unflinching  courage,  or  lying  flat  upon 
their  faces  to  escape  the  rebel  fire,  until  the  moment 
for  action.  There  was  not  a  place  on  the  field  that  did 
not  give  men  a  satisfactory  idea  of  the  manner  of  hot 
fire,  solid  shot,  shell  and  minnie  balls,  which  rattled 
around  like  hail.  Rosecranz  himself  was  incessantly 
exposed — it  is  wonderful  that  he  escaped.  His  Chief 
of  Staff  (noble  Lieutenant-Colonel  Garesche)  had  his 
head  taken  off  by  a  round  shot,  and  the  blood  spattered 
the  General  and  some  of  the  Staff'.  Lieutenant  Lyman 
Kirk,  just  behind  him,  was  lifted  clear  out  of  his  saddle 
by  a  bullet,  which  shattered  his  left  arm.  Three  Order 
lies,  and  the  gallant  Sergeant  Richmond,  of  the  Fourth 
United  States  Cavalry,  were  killed  within  a  few  feet  of 
him,  and  five  or  six  horses  in  the  staff  and  escort  were 
struck. 

Between  four  and  five  o'clock  the  enemy*  apparently 
exhausted  by  his  rapid  and  incessant  assault,  took  up  a 
position  not  assailable  without  abundant  artillery,  and 
the  fire  on  both  sides  slackened,  and  finally  ceased  at 
dark,  the  battle  having  raged  eleven  hours. 

The  loss  of  life  on  our  side  is  considerable.  The  field 
is  comparatively  limited.  The  whole  casualty  list  that 
day,  excluding  captures,  did  not  exceed,  perhaps,  one 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  197 

thousand  and  five  hundred,  of  whom  not  more  than 
one-fourth  were  killed.  This  is  attributed  to  the  care 
taken  to  make  our  men  lie  down.  The  enemy's  loss 
must  have  been  more  severe.  But  among  our  losses 
we  mourn  such  noble  souls  as  General  Sill,  General 
August  Willich,  Colonel  Garesche,  Colonel  Minor  Mil- 
likin,  First  Ohio  Cavalry ;  Colonel  Hawkins,  Thirteenth 
Ohio;  Colonel  McKee,  Third  Kentucky ;  Colonel  Gor 
man,  Fifteenth  Kentucky ;  Colonel  Kell,  Second  Ohio ; 
Lieutenant- Colonel  Shepherd,  Eighteenth  Regulars; 
Major  Carpenter,  Nineteenth  Regulars;  Captain  Edgar- 
ton,  First  Ohio  Battery,  and  his  two  Lieutenants,  and 
many  more. 

When  the  battle  closed,  the  enemy  occupied  ground 
which  was  ours  in  the  morning,  and  the  advantage 
theirs.  Their  object  in  attacking  was  to  cut  us  off  from 
ISTashville;  they  almost  succeeded.  They  had  played 
their  old  game.  If  McCook's  corps  had  held  more 
firmly  against  Hardee's  corps  and  Cheatham's,  when  he 
fought,  Rosecranz's  plan  of  battle  would  have  suc 
ceeded.  At  dark  they  had  a  heavy  force  on  our  right, 
leading  to  the  belief  that  they  intended  to  pursue. 
Their  cavalry,  meantime,  was  excessively  troublesome, 
cutting  deeply  into  our  train  behind  us,  and  we  had-not 
cavalry  enough  to  protect  ourselves.  The  Fourth  Reg 
ulars  made  one  splendid  dash  at  them,  capturing  sixty- 
seven  and  releasing  five  hundred  prisoners  they  had 
taken  from  us.  The  enemy  took  a  large  number. 

"  General  Rosecranz  determined  to  begin  the  attack 
this  morning  and  opened  furiously  with  out  left  at 
dawn.  The  enemy,  however,  would  not  retire  from 
our  right,  and  the  battle  worked  that  way.  At  eleven 
o'clock  matters  were  not  flattering  on  either  side.  At 
twelve  o'clock  our  artillery,  new  supplies  of  ammuni- 


198  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

tion  having  arrived,  was  massed,  and  a  terrible  fire 
opened.  The  enemy  began  to  give  way,  General 
Thomas  pressing  on  their  center,  and  Crittenden  ad 
vancing  on  their  left.  The  battle  was  more  severe  at 
that  hour  than  it  had  been,  and  the  result  was  yet 
doubtful.  Both  sides  were  uneasy,  but  determined. 
General  Rosecranz  feels  its  importance  fully.  If  he  is 
defeated  it  will  be  badly,  because  he  will  tight  as  long 
as  he  has  a  brigade.  If  he  is  victorious,  the  enemy 
will  be  destroyed.  At  this  hour  we  are  apprehensive. 
Some  of  our  troops  behaved  badly,  but  most  of  them 
were  heroes.  The  enemy  seem  to  number  as  many  as 
we,  and  perhaps  more.  GeneralJoe  Johnson  and  Gen 
eral  Braxton  Bragg  are  in  command."  Thus  writes  a 
correspondent  of  the  Cincinnati  Commercial. 

When  the  enemy  surprised  General  Johnson,  tho 
Fifty-Ninth  Illinois  was  under  arms  and  ready  for  the 
conflict.  Had  the  attack  been  made  on  General  Davis 
instead  of  Johnson  the  ground  would  have  been  heLd 
and  the  inglorious  stampede  of  the  right  wing  pre 
vented.  The  attack  was  made  at  the  only  point  in  the 
Union  lines  where  the  rebels  would  not  have  met  with 
a  warm  reception.  Some  of  the  boys  were  captured 
while  at  the  Springs  after  water;  some  at  their  fires 
while  cooking,  and  some  of  the  artillery-men  were  sur 
prised  while  watering  their  horses. 

The  attack  was  manfully  resisted  in  front  of  the  Fifty- 
Ninth  Illinois  until  Johnson's  Division  had  doubled 
back  in  confusion  on  Davis,  and  the  enemy  was  forcing 
Davis'  right  so  as  to  threaten,  the  rear  of  Post's  Brig 
ade,  when  Colonel  Post  ordered  a  retreat.  Reluctantly 
and  in  good  order  the  regiment  moved  back,  occasion 
ally  throwing  a  volley  into  the  ranks  of  the  pursuing 
enemy,  which  held  them  in  check  until  General  Rous- 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  199 

seau's  command  came  to  the  rescue.  On  its  retreat  it 
passed  the  point  where  our  brigade  battery  had  been  in 
position.  One  gun  of  the  battery  had  been  left  behind 
still  in  position,  for  the  want  of  horses  to  pull  it  off  the 
field,  some  of  these  having  been  killed.  The  men,  by 
permission,  left  the  ranks  and  soon  run  it  out  of  danger 
of  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  As  soon  as 
reinforcements  arrived  the  Fifty-Ninth  ceased  its  retreat 
and  advanced  again  upon  the  enemy.  They  were  driven 
back  and  the  regiment  went  into  bivouac  north  of  the 

o 

Murfreeshoro'  and  Nashville  Pike.  Of  all  the  regiments 
belonging  to  Johnson  or  Davis'  divisions  the  Fifty-ITinth 
came  off  the  field  with  the  most  men  and  in  the  best 
order. 

James  A.  Howser,  Company  F,  Sergeant  John  J. 
Hatham  and  Andrew  J.  Watts,  Company  D,  James  H. 
Sheets,  Company  C,  Patrick  Reynolds,  Company  H,  Jas. 
R.  Dennis,  Company  B,  Sergeant  Alfred  B.  Barber  and 
Corporal  Reuben  Cummins,  Company  Gr,  and  Thos.  I. 
Hopper,  Company  A,  were  left  on  the  field  killed. 
Jefferson  Slusser  and  James  Slusser  were  left  on  the 
field  wounded,  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels. 
They  were  taken  to  Murfreesboro',  and  kept  there  until 
retaken  by  our  forces  on  the  evacuation  of  the  town. 

On  the  1st  day  of  January,  1863,  the  regiment  ad 
vanced  to  Stone  River  to  within  two  miles  of  Murfrees- 
boro',  and  General  Davis  being  ordered  to  charge  across 
and  dislodge  some  of  the  enemy  who  were  on  the  oppo 
site  side,  the  Fifty-Kinth  waded  the  stream  on  double- 
quick,  charged  up  the  bank  and  took  possession  of  the 
ground,  the  rebels  retreating  before  their  glittering 
bayonets  without  resistance.  Here  they  lay  under  fire, 
and  returning  shot  for  shot  until  after  dark,  when  they 
silently  withdrew,  crossing  back  to  their  old  position. 


200  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

The  battle  continuing  through  the  2d  and  3d  days  of 
January;  the  regiment  was  constantly  kept  under 
arms,  frequently  changing  position  so  as  to  always  be 
in  front  of  the  enemy. 

During  the  stampede  on  Wednesday  the  rebel  cavalry 
broke  through  our  lines  and  made  a  dash  on  the  train. 
The  hospital  wagon  of  the  Fifty-£sTinth  Regiment  was 
halted  by  one  of  the  Texan  Rangers,  and  the  driver  was 
ordered  to  drive  his  team  off  in  an  opposite  direction. 
"  Certainly,  certainly/'  said  the  driver,  but  in  the  mean 
time  made  his  calculations,  and  sprang  from  the  wagon 
on  the  other  side.  Some  fleeing  soldier  had  thrown 
away  his  loaded  musket ;  this  fortunately  was  seen  by 
Foster — the  driver's  name  was  Albert  Foster — who 
picked  it  up.  Passing  rapidly  to  the  rear  and  around 
his  wagon  he  shot  the  rebel  from  his  horse,  mounted  it 
and  joined  our  cavalry,  which  was  now  charging  back 
on  the  greazy  scoundrels,  and  assisted  in  driving  them  to 
the  woods.  After  chasing  them  until  pursuit  was  useless 
he  returned  to  his  team  with  his  spoils  of  victory.  The 
horse  was  a  valuable  one,  and  was  well  equipped  with 
a  good  saddle  and  bridle,  a  pair  of  pistols  in  the  hol 
sters,  and  saddle-bags  containing  some  clothing  and 
corn  bread.  A  few  more  such  heroic  drivers  would 
save  many  a  government  wagon  from  the  torch  of  the 
guerrilla. 

The  rebels  retreated  from  Murfreesboro'  on  the  night 
of  the  3d,  and  on  the  4th  General  R.osecranz  estab 
lished  his  headquarters  there.  The  army  moved  on 
through  town  and  went  into  camp  two  or  three  miles 
below.  The  trains  were  soon  ordered  up  with  tents 
and  all  necessary  camp  equipage,  and  in  a  few  days  the 
troops  were  comfortably  resting  from  the  excessive  toil 
and  exposure  of  the  last  two  weeks'  campaign.  Eight 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  201 

days  constant  exposure  without  rest  or  sleep  had  tried 
the  muscle  and  nerve  of  the  brave  men  of  the  army  to 
the  extent,  almost,  of  endurance.  is~obly  had  they 
endured  the  hardships,  and  now  they  are  entitled  to  all 
the  comforts  that  is  possible  to  be  provided.  They  Irad 
driven  the  rebels  from  their  comfortable  winter  quar 
ters  at  Murfreesboro',  and  had  made  the  prospect  for  a 
termination  of  the  war  much  more  flattering  than  when 
lying  idly  in  camp  at  ISTashville,  and  they  were  satis 
fied.  Their  hardships  were  soon  forgotten,  and  in  a 
very  few  days  they  would  have  been  willing  to  have 
made  another  advance. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


The  Fifty-Ninth  pitched  tents  to  the  right  of  the 
pike  leading  from  Murfreesboro'  to  Shelbyville,  three 
miles  south  of  town.  Stone  River  ran  a  short  distance 
from  camp  on  the  right,  and  in  front  lay  the  large 
plantation  'of  ex-senator  Bell,  recent  candidate  for  Vice 
President  of  the  United  States,  but  now  a  traitor. 

The  splendid  mansion  of  this  arch  traitor  is  now  oc 
cupied  by  General  Johnson,  of  the  Union  Army.  The 
owner  of  this  plantation  fled  with  the  rebel  army  on  its 
retreat  from  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  and  General 
Johnson  took  possession  and  encamped  his  division  on 
the  premise-s  the  day  following.  The  house  is  most  de 
lightfully  situated  on  an  elevated  spot  overlooking  the 
whole  plantation,  and  near  the  banks  of  Stone  River. 
From  the  portico  in  front  of  the  mansion,  may  be  seen 
the  pure,  blue  waters  of  the  river,  as  it  winds  its  tortu 
ous  course  along  its  rock-bound  channel,  for  two  miles 
above  and  below.  The  negro  cabins,  and  the  slaves  at 
work  any  where  on  the  plantation,  can  be  seen  from 
the  piazza,  or  could  have  been  a  few  days  ago ;  but  now 
the  white  tents  of  the  soldier  has  taken  the  place  of  the 
s'lave  at  his  work. 

The  Fifty-Ninth  was  not  allowed  to  enjoy  a  lengthy 
repose  in  camp,  but  was  soon  sent  with  a  part  of  the 
division  to  reinforce  the  command  at  Franklin,  Tenn., 
thirty  miles  west  of  Murfreesboro'.  Leaving  all  but  such 


FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.       203 

things  as  they  could  carry  in  their  knapsacks,  they 
reached  Franklin  the  second  day  after  leaving  camp. 
Here  they  lay  in  bivouac  about  ten  days.  They  then 
returned  to  camp,  bringing  with  them  three  or  four 
prisoners  and  a  few  extra  horses.  The  three  prisoners 
and  three  horses  were  captured  by  two  of  our  boys. 
Win.  Ebling  and  Samuel  "Wambroth;  the  one  the  hos 
pital  nurse,  and  the  other  a  cook;  being  both  mounted 
on  extra  horses,  were  a  short  distance  from  the  road, 
when  they  saw  three  rebel  horsemen  riding  across  an 
open  field  towards  a  house  in  the  distance.  These 
two  boys  put  spurs  to  their  horses  and  made  pursuit. 
On  coming  within  hailing  distance  they  shouted  to  the 
rebs  to  halt,  which  they  did,  surrendering  themselves 
prisoners  of  war.  The  boys,  proud  of  their  capture, 
marched  them  off  to  General  Davis,  and  they  were 
handed  over  to  the  provost  guard. 

This  same  William  Ebling,  while  scouting  over  the 
battle  ground  of  Stone  River  the  day  after  the  battle 
terminated,  came  across  a  citizen  dressed  in  butternut 
clothing,  and  supposing  him  to  be  a  rebel,  arrested  him. 
Ebling  had  just  before  passed  a  sutler  establishment 
and  bought  a  bottle  of  whisky.  Although  he  was 
death  on  rebels,  he  freely  shared  his  whisky  with  his 
prisoner,  and  when  he  presented  his  captive  to  General 
Davis,  they  were  both  pretty  tight.  The  man  was  a 
good  Union  man,  and  was  hunting  over  the  field  for  a 
missing  relative.  General  Davis  amused  himself  at 
their  expense  a  short  time,  and  sent  them,  the  one  to 
his  quarters  and  the  other  to  his  home. 

A  few  days  after  going  into  camp  here,  Lieut.  Col 
onel  C.  H.  Frederick  returned  to  the  regiment  for  the 
purpose  of  settling  up  his  affairs  and  to  bid  the  com 
mand  "good  bye."  While  at  Nashville,  he  resigned 


204  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

his  commission  arid  was  now  a  private  citizen.  His  de 
parture  was  witnessed  with  regret  by  the  whole  com 
mand.  He  had  ever  been  a  good,  faithful  officer,  and  a 
kind,  good  friend  to  the  men  of  the  regiment. 

Major  J.  C.  "Winters,  having  returned  from  his  leave 
of  absence,  now  assumed  command  of  the  regiment, 
nd  Captain  Paine,  that  of  Major.  Captain  Stookey 
again  taking  command  of  his  company.  After  the 
capture  of  Adjutant  Phillips,  Lieutenant  Minnett,  of 
company  D,  was  appointed  Adjutant. 

While  the  regiment  lay  at  Murfreesboro',  the  follow 
ing  young  men  were  deservedly  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  First  Lieutenant:  Reuben  Maddox,  company  F,  I. 
M.  Vanosdel,  company  K",  Charles  Doolittle,  company 
I,  A.  Sanderson,  company  B,  S.  Eleric,  company  A,  and 
Hiram  Wendt,  company  G. 

To  that  of  Second  Lieutenant :  Curtis,  company 

C,  H.  C.  Baughman,  company  F,  D.  L.  Ilorhamer,  com 
pany  I,  Fred.  N.  Boyer,  company  H, Irwin,  com 
pany  D,  and Anderson,  company  B. 

To  that  of  Captain:  Hamilton  W.  Hall,  company  F, 
Adjutant  Minnett,  company  D,  Henry  Wiley,  company 
H,  S.  L.  Burris,  company  G-,  I.  Henderson,  company  C, 

D.  Bagley,  company  A,  Samuel  West,  company  I. 
These  young  men,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  were 

enlisted  as  privates  in  the  ranks.  They  have  all  been 
faithful  soldiers,  doing  their  duty  manfully,  both  in  time 
of  battle  and  in  camp.  At  Pea  Bidge,  at  Perry  ville 
and  Stone  River  they  were  among  the  bravest  of  the 
brave. 

After  laying  in  ca.mp  a  few  days,  the  regiment  again 
moved  out  towards  Franklin,  but  not  so  far  as  before. 
The  enemy  was  now  threatening  another  point  in  our 
lines,  between  Murfreesboro'  and  Franklin,  and  to 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  205 

strengthen  this  point  General  Davis  moved  out  with 
his  Division.  No  serious  attack  was  made,  and  the 
regiment  returned  to  camp.  The  lines  were  now 
shortened,  and  the  camp  all  moved  up  nearer  town. 
As  soon  as  the  camps  were  arranged,  the  regiments 
were  set  to  work  building  fortifications.  Until  the  24th 
of  June,  work  at  the  fortifications  and  picket  duty  was 
all  that  was  required  of  the  Fifty-Ninth.  In  building 
forts,  and  digging  entrenchments,  one-third  or  one- 
half  the  regiment  was  employed  at  a  time.  In  doing 
picket  duty,  the  whole  regiment  moved  out  to  the  lines, 
and  remained  there  from  five  to  ten  days  at  a  time. 

One  day,  while  on  picket,  "Walter  C.  "Wyker,  of  Com 
pany  K,  was  standing  guard  at  his  post,  near  the  pike 
bridge  across  Stone  River,  some  rebel  cavalry  came  in 
sight,  a  mile  or  two  down  the  pike,  and,  to  get  a  better 
view  of  them,  Wyker  stepped  upon  a  large  rock  near 
by,  and,  in  bringing  his  gun  up  after  him,  struck  the 
loc.k  against  the  rock,  and  fired  it  off,  the  load  lodging 
in  his  bowels,  killing  him  in  a  few  seconds.  He  was 
brought  to  camp,  and  buried  with  the  honors  of  war. 
He  was  a  faithful  soldier,  and  an  agreeable  mess-mate, 
and  was  universally  respected  by  the  members  of  his 
company. 

Here,  for  the  first  time  since  leaving  Boonville,  Mis 
souri,  the  regiment  had  the  privilege  of  attending 
church  regularly  every  Sabbath,  and  frequently  during 
the  week. 

The  writer's  diary  of  the  17th  of  May,  has  the  fol 
lowing  : 

"I  have  just  returned  from  hearing  an  excellent  ser 
mon,  spoken  by  the  Reverend  Colonel  Granville  Moody. 
Colonel  Moody  was  my  favorite  preacher,  of  the  Metho 
dist  Church  in  Oxford,  Ohio,  more  than  twenty-five 


206  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

years  ago.  I  have  never  seen  him,  from  that  day  till 
this.  It  may  well  be  believed  that  his  appearance 
brought  to  mind  many  pleasant  thoughts  of  old  times. 
I  was  again  sitting  in  the  old  familiar  seat,  in  the  old 
brick  church,  of  my  boyhood  days.  Although  the 
preacher's  head  has  now  become  silvered  o'er  with  age, 
his  voice  and  looks  are  but  little  changed.  His  ser 
mon  was  to  me  a  '  feast  of  reason  and  a  flow  of  soul.' 
His  text  was :  l  Choose  ye  this  day  whom  ye  will 
serve.  If  the  Lord  is  God,  serve  him.'  His  remarks 
we-re  listened  to  with  the  most  wrapped  attention,  and, 
I  think,  made  quite  an  impression  on  the  soldiers.  I 
would  that  there  were  more  such  preachers  in  the 
army.  Colonel  Moody  commands  an  Ohio  regiment, 
and  is  a  fighting  Colonel.  His  regiment  was  in  the 
thickest  of  the  fight  at  Stone  River,  and  did  good  exe 
cution.  While  he  was  speaking,  I  could  not  help  but 
think  of  the  vast  amount  of  good  he  has  been  the  in 
strument,  in  the  hands  of  God,  in  doing  in  the  world. 
For  thirty  years  his  words  of  entreaty  have  been  spoken 
to  thousands  of  anxious  hearers,  every  Sabbath,  to  turn 
from  the  evil  of  their  ways,  and  seek  the  paths  of 
righteousness  and  peace.  Can  he  be  otherwise  than 
happy? — happy  in  the  consciousness  of  having  done 
his  duty  towards  God  and  man.  His  sermon  was 
preached  in  one  of  the  block  houses  inside  a  fort.  It 
was  a  novel  sight  to  see  the  preparations  for  dealing 
death  and  destruction  to  our  fellow  beings,  surrounding 
the  minister  of  peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  men. 

"When  I  came  back  to  camp  I  found  that  an  order 
had  been  issued  to  turn  over  to  the  Quartermaster  all 
extra  baggage  belonging  to  the  men — such  as  blankets, 
clothing,  etc., — leaving  them  only  one  blanket  each,  one 
suit  of  clothes,  an  extra  pair  of  drawers,  an  extra  pair 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  207 

of  socks,  and  an  extra  shirt.  This  looks  towards  an 
early  move  of  some  kind — an  advance,  perhaps,  towards 
the  enemy/'' 

Lieutenant  J.  II.  Knight  is  now  Acting  Quartermas 
ter  of  the  regiment,  Lieutenant  Brasher  not  having,  as 
yet,  returned  from  his  parole. 

David  Thompson,  of  Company  K,  returned  to  the 
regiment,  from  Nashville,  on  the  16th  of  April.  He 
was  reported  to  the  Surgeon  the  next  morning  at  sick 
call.  On  the  following  day  he  was  sent  to  the  general 
field  hospital,  with  well-developed  symptoms  of  small 
pox,  and  on  the  21st  he  expired. 

James  Slusser,  of  Company  F,  was  brought  to  the 
hospital,  with  dysentery,  about  the  middle  of  June. 
He  soon  became  convalescent,  with  a  very  good  pros 
pect  of  soon  returning  to  his  company  in  good  health ; 
but,  when  the  regiment  marched,  on  the  24th,  he  was 
yet  unfit  for  duty,  and  was,  consequently,  left  at  the 
general  field  hospital.  A  relapse  soon  followed,  and 
he,  also,  died. 

In  the  latter  part  of  April,  one  Doctor  Kelly  reported 
himself  to  Major  Winters,  with  a  commission  as  First 
Surgeon  of  the  Fifty -Ninth  Illinois  Regiment.  He  was 
an  entire  stranger  to  all  concerned,  but  his  commission 
gave  him  authority  to  remain  and  take  charge  of  the 
sick  men  of  the  regiment.,  He  soon  proved  himself 
qualified  for  the  position,  and  the  boys  were  well 
pleased  with  the  imposition. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 


On  the  15th  of  June  the  regiment  went  out  on  picket 
to  remain  ten  days.  Their  picket  post  was  on  the 
Shelbyville  Pike,  about  two  miles  south  of  Stone 
River. 

On  the  23d  of  June  orders  were  received  at  camp  to 
strike  tents,  and  move  out  with  the  train  on  the  24th. 
Consequently,  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  the  train 
moved  down  the  pike  to  where  the  regiment  had  been 
standing  picket.  The  regiment  was  already  gone,  and 
the  train  followed  after,  taking  the  direction  of  Liberty 
Gap.  The  day  was  very  disagreeable;  a  drizzling  rain 
had  set  in  e.arly  in  the  morning  and  continued  all  day, 
wetting  everything  and  everybody  completely.  In  this 
plight  the  men  lay  on  their  arms  all  night.  They 
were  now  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Gap,  and  it  was 
reported  that  the  enemy  had  a  strong  force  there. 

The  morning  of  the  25th  was  dark  and  cloudy,  but 
the  troops  were  early  astir,  and  soon  on  the  advance 
towards  the  Gap.  About  noon  the  enemy  were  ob 
served  in  force  immediately  in  front.  A  disposition 
was  speedily  made  of  our  forces,  and  the  Fifty-Ninth 
was  sent  out  as  flankers,  or  rather  as  advanced  skir 
mishers,  on  the  right  flank  of  the  Division.  Fortu 
nately  for  the  Fifty-Ninth,  this  move  kept  them  from 
entering  the  engagement,  only  as  skirmishers,  as  the 
righting  was  all  done  in  another  part  of  the  field.  The 
regiment,  however,  skirmished  pretty  lively  with  the 

*  (208) 


CAPT.  HENRY  WILEY.  CAPT.  J  .  JOH  NSON 


LIEUT.H.C.BAUGHMAN.  LI  EUT.  D.L.KORHAM  M  E  R 


ft 


LIEUT.FRED.N.BOYER 


LIEUT.  J.YANOSDELL 


LIEUT.HIRAMWENT.  M  tUT.JOS  ELERiC 


1-tth.by  WJBRAOfcN  *C? 


FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT   ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.       209 

enemy  all  the  afternoon.  Some  of  the  rebels  were  hit 
by  our  balls,  as  the  boys  could  see  them  fall,  or  crawl 
from  their  hiding  places  badly  wounded.  The  trees 
behind  which  the  boys  concealed  themselves  were  fre 
quently  hit  by  the  balls  from  the  rebel  guns,  but  none 
of  the  regiment  was  injured.  On  other  parts  of  the 
Pass  there  was  heavy  fighting  until  evening,  when  the 
enemy  fell  back  and  gave  our  men  possession. 

The  command  held  the  ground  until  about  three  in- 
the  morning,  when  it  was  silently  withdrawn  and 
marched  on  towards  Tullahoma.  It  was  said  that  the 
enemy  withdrew  about  the  same  time,  neither  army 
having  any  desire  to  renew  the  contest. 

The  march  now  continued  daily  until  the  3d  day  of 
July,  when  the  Division  again  went  into  camp  at  Win 
chester,  Tennessee. 

The  march  from  Murfreesboro'  to  Winchester  was 
very  fatiguing.  It  rained  almost  incessantly,  keeping 
the  men  continually  wet,  and  making  the  roads  very 
muddy  and  the  streams  high.  The  rebels,  on  their  re 
treat,  destroyed  the  bridge  across  Elk  River,  and  incon 
sequence  our  army  was  compelled  to  wade  it.  At  the 
point  where  the  Fifty-Ninth  crossed,  the  water  was 
waist  deep  to  the  men  and  the  current  very  swift.  Two 
or  three  of  the  boys  would  lock  arms,  and  by  assisting 
each  other  would  succeed  in  forcing  their  way  over. 
Several  who  braved  the  flood  single-handed  were  swept 
away  and  carried  a  considerable  distance  down  stream 
before  they  could  effe-ct  a  landing.  The  enemy  con 
tinued  to  retreat  from  Liberty  Gap,  through  Tullaho 
ma,  Manchester,  Winchester,  and  Stevenson,  Alabama, 
towards  Chattanooga;  so  that  our  infantry  did  not 
overtake  them  before  going  into  camp  at  Winchester. 

The  brigade  of  Colonel  Post  went  into  camp  one 
(14) 


210  FIFTY-NIN.TH   REGIMENT 

mile  east  of  the  town,  and  in  advance  of  any  troops 
belonging  to  the  corps.  The  Fifty-Ninth,  as  usual,  he- 
ing  the  picket  regiment.  This  was  pleasing  to  the 
boys,  as  it  gave  them  the  privilege  of  the  country,  and 
an  easy  acces-s  to  blackberries,  peaches,  potatoes,  etc. 
The  camp  is  pleasantly  situated,  and  if  the  weather  he- 
comes  fair  the  boys  can  enjoy  themselves. 

Soon  after  arriving  here,  Lieutenant  Brasher,  Quar 
termaster,  and  Captain  Clayton  Hale,  (now  Major  Hale,) 
returned  to  the  regiment.  After  the  resignation  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Frederick,  Major  Winters  was  pro 
moted  to  the  position  of  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  Clay 
ton  Hale  to  that  of  Major.  Frank  Clark,  of  Company 
A,  now  received  the  appointment  of  Adjutant. 

The  routine  of  camp  life  now  commenced  in  earnest; 
policing,  guard  and  picket  duty,  foraging  and  amuse 
ments  of  various  kinds  occupies  the  time  of  the  regi 
ment.  The  history  of  one  day  is  the  repetition  of  the 
preceding  one,  and  so  on. 

Winchester  is  ninety-five  miles  south  of  Nashville, 
and  is  an  old  dilapidated  place  of  perhaps  eight  hun 
dred  inhabitants,  mostly  secesh.  The  country  around 
is  very  well  improved  and  quite  productive,  but  thinly 
populated  at  this  time,  as  the  citizens  have,  many  of 
them,  gone  with  the  rebel  army.  There  are  several 
families  remaining  in  town,  but  the  men  folks  have  dis 
appeared,  leaving  only  the  women  and  children.  Of 
the  former  there  are  quite  a  number,  and  many  of  them 
are  young  and  good  looking.  These  are  an  attraction 
for  the  young  bloods  of  the  army,  and  those  of  the 
Fifty-Ninth  are  very  attentive.  The  tediousness  of 
camp  life  is  very  much  relieved  by  a  few  hours  spent  in 
the  society  of  interesting  young  ladies  now  and  then. 

After  a  few  days  of  idleness  in  camp,  the  boys  get 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  211 

very  mischievous,  and  if  there  is  any  whisky  to  be  had 
the  monotony  is  broken  by  some  serious  termination  to 
the  pranks  being  played. 

One  evening,  after  imbibing  pretty  freely,  the  boys 
were   about  getting  into  a  general  engagement,  when 

Sergeant ,  of  company  E,  supposing  it  to  be  his 

duty  to  keep  the  peace,  interfered.  This  proceeding 
was  resented,  and  in  the  melee  the  Sergeant  was  se 
verely  cut  with  a  knife,  in  the  hands  of  one  Davis,  of 
another  company.  Davis  immediately  fled,  and  was 
never  heard  of  afterwards.  The  Sergeant  was  taken  to 
the  hospital,  to  have  his  wound  attended  to.  The 
wound  was  inflicted  by  a  sharp  instrument,  and  pene 
trated  through  the  muscles  of  the  back,  into  the  lower 
lobe  of  the  right  lung.  The  cut  o.n  the  surface  was 
about  four  inches  in  length,  and  on  the  surface  of  the 
lung  half  an  inch  in  length,  deep  enough  to  afford  a 
full  breathing  surface.  At  every  motion  of  the  lungs 
the  air  rushed  in  and  out  of  this  opening  as  through 
the  mouth  of  a  bellows.  "When  brought  to  the  tent, 
the  man  was  in  a  dying  condition.  His  life  was  rapidly 
going  out  at  the  opening  in  the  lung.  The  old  Hospital 
Steward  was  in  favor  of  immediately  closing  the  wound 
by  sewing  the  lips  together,  but  the  two  young  Assist 
ant  Surgeons,  Doctors  Bunce  and  Gaston,  (Gaston  had 
a  few  days  before  been  commissioned  from  the  ranks 
of  the  One  Hundred-and-Second  Illinois  Regiment,  to 
the  position  of  Second  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  Fifty- 
Ninth,)  overruled  the  idea,  under  the  impression  that 
by  closing  the  wound  the  blood  would  have  no  egress, 
and  by  its  accumulation  inwardly,  cause  injury  to  the 
patient.  The  man  was  dying,  as  every  one  could  see. 
His  pulse  was  failing  rapidly,  and  a  few  hours  would 
undoubtedly  finish  his  career.  Doctor  Kelly,  who  was 


212  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

in  town,  was  sent  for — came,  and  for  appearance  sake, 
as  he  said,  put  a  couple  of  stitches  in  the  wound.  By 
this  time  the  pulse  had  entirely  disappeared  from  the 
wrist,  and  the  Doctors  left  the  tent,  not  doubting  but 
that  the  man  would  soon  be  dead.  As  soo-n  as  the  Sur 
geons  left,  the  Steward  carefully  closed  the  wound  with 
a  compress,  and  caused  the  man  to  lay  on  that  side  so 
as  to  keep  the  compress  to  its  place.  As  soon  as  this 
was  done  the  breathing  passed  through  the  natural 
channel — the  mouth — and  in  an  hour  the  pulse  could 
be  distinctly  felt  at  the  wrist,  and  in  the  morning  the 
Doctors  were  surprised  to  find  the  Sergeant,  not  only 
still  living,  but  bright  and  cheerful.  In  ten  days  the 
man  was  well.  Ignorance  is  bliss,  but  not  always  safe 
for  the  patient. 

Doctor  Kelly  here  resigned  his  commission  as  Sur 
geon,  and  Doctor  Bunco  immediately  applied  for  and 
received  a  co-mmission  in  his  stead. 

Indications  now  point  strongly  towards  another  move. 
A  general  inspection  of  the  troops  and  trains  almost 
always  precedes  a  forward  movement  of  the  army,  and 
this  is  now  going  on  in  this  department.  The  next 
move  will  be  across  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  and 
the  trains  must  all  be  in  good  condition,  or  they  will 
never  stand  the  trip.  It  is  only  about  three  miles  to 
the  foot  of  these  mountains  in  a  direct  course  from  here, 
but  it  is  said  that  we  must  pass  through  Cowen  before 
we  can  climb  them,  which  is  ten  or  twelve  miles  away. 
Cowen  is  a  station  on  th.e  Kashville  and  Chattanooga 
Railroad,  and  is  near  the  entrance  of  the  tunnel  which 
here  runs  through  the  mountain. 

On  the  17th  of  August,  the  army  evacuated  "Win 
chester,  and  camped  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  to  be 
in  readiness  for  crossing  on  the  following  morning.  The 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  213 

18th  was  spent  in  getting  the  artillery  and  trains  to  the 
top  of  the  mountain — the  regiments  having  to  assist  in 
dragging  the  heavy  cannon  and  heavy  loaded  wagons 
over  the  most  difficult  places.  The  19th  completed  the 
crossing,  and  the  troops  hivouaced  at  the  eastern  foot 
of  the  mountain  until  morning.  The  march  was  con 
tinued  on  the  20th,  until  a  convenient  camp  was  reached 
near  Stevenson,  Alabama. 

Stevenson  is  a  small  town  at  the  junction  of'the 
Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Railroad  with  the  Mem 
phis  and  Charleston  Railroad.  It  is  twenty-five  miles 
from  Chattanooga,  and  three  miles  from  the  Tennessee 
River.  It  is  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  by  rail 
from  Nashville.  The  camp  of  the  Fifty-Ninth  is  one 
mile  from  town,  near  the  right  bank  of  the  famous 
Battle  Creek,  and  within  about  the  same  distance  of  a 
high  conical-shaped  mountain,  at  the  foot  of  which 
nestles  the  little  town  of  Stevenson. 

On  the  28th  the  First  and  Second  Brigades  of  Davis' 
Division  moved  out,  and  the  probability  was  that  the 
Third  would  soon  follow.  This  the  men  were  willing 
for,  as  they  usually  enjoy  the  march,  in  pleasant 
weather,  better  than  much  laying  in  camp.  After  a 
few  days  in  camp  the  routine  of  camp  life  becomes  tire 
some,  and  the  men  wish  for  a  change.  Sickness  usually 
increases  in  proportion  to  the  length  of  time  spent  in 
lying  idle  in  camp,  showing  that  it  is  more  agreeable  to 
be  moving  occasionally.  In  camp  there  are  many  more 
indulgences  in  the  way  of  gormandizing,  to  be  sure, 
than  on  the  march  ;  but  the  mind,  also,  has  its  influence 
in  preserving  the  health  of  the  soldier.  On  the  march 
the  mind  is  withdrawn  from  brooding  over  the  sacri 
fices  made,  and  a  longing  for  the  return  of  those  home 
comforts  and  associations  which  have  been  so  long  left 


214  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

behind.  The  anticipations  of  coming  events,  the 
changes  of  scenery,  both  of  a  natural  and  artificial 
character,  such  as  hills  and  dales,  valleys  and  moun 
tains,  rivers  and  creeks,  springs  arid  rivulets,  large  plan 
tations,  with  their  fine  mansions  and  negro  cabins, 
beautiful  groves  and  lawns,  or  the  isolated  log  hut  of 
the  native  forester — all  tending  to  relieve  the  mind  of 
"  brooding  melancholy,"  preserve  the  health,  and  re 
store  the  convalescent,  by  their  ever-changing  attrac 
tions  to  the  soldier,  as  he  passes  them  on  the  march. 

The  sick  were  now  sent  to  the  general  field  hospital, 
at  Stevenson,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  30th,  the 
regiment  struck  tents,  and  moved  out.  Passing  through 
Stevenson,  it  proceeded,  by  a  short  and  direct  road,  to 
the  Tenne-ssee  River.  Here  it  bivouaccd  till  a  pontoon 
bridge  was  in  readiness  for  crossing  upon.  About  four 
o'clock  in  the  evening  the  brigade  crossed  over,  and 
went  into  camp  one  mile  distant  from  the  river. 

The  30th  of  August  was  a  beautiful  day,  and,  while 
awaiting  the  opportunity  to  cross,  the  boys  amused 
themselves  bathing  in  the  river.  The  river  here  was 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  wide,  and  many  of  the  men 
swam  from  one  shore  to  the  other,  apparently  without 
much  difficulty.  It  was  very  amusing  to  stand  on  the 
bank  and  witness  the  feats  of  agility  performed  by  these 
aquatic  actors.  After  witnessing  this  lively  scene,  the 
writer  and  Lieutenant  Sanderson,  of  Company  A, 
se-ated  themselves  in  the  shade,  near  the  pontoons,  to 
witness  the  activity  of  the  scene  in  that  vicinity.  Just 
below  the  bridge  was  the  only  place  where  the  mules 
could  be  taken  to  water,  and  here  the  hundreds  of 
mules  and  horses  belonging  to  the  trains  were  now 
being  brought.  Each  driver  brought  six  mules,  fas 
tened  together,  so  that,  by  riding  one,  the  others  could 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  215 

be  led  without  difficulty.  On  coming  to  the  water 
there  was  such  a  crowd  of  them  that  a  great  deal  of 
trouhle  was  sometimes  required  to  get  them  out  with 
out  becoming  considerably  entangled.  Swearing  is  a 
universal  practice  amongst  M.  D.'s,  and  now  it  was  re 
markable.  It  seemed  as  though  each  one  tried  to  do 
more  of  it  than  any  one  else  could.  The  writer  had 
noticed  that  not  one  had  left  the  water  without  leaving 
many  curses  resting  on  the  "souls"  of  his  poor  mules. 
He  finally  remarked  to  the  Lieutenant  that  he  believed 
all  mule-drivers,  without  an  exception,  would  swear. 

"It  seems  so,"  said  the  Lieutenant,  "but  yonder  is  a 
fellow  who  has  been  trying  to  disentangle  his  mules 
for  some  time,  and  he  has  not  yet  used  an  oath." 

Patiently  the  fellow  worked  for  sometime  longer,  but 
to  no  purpose.  The  mules  were  very  stubborn,  and  re 
sisted  all  entreaty  to  come  to  shore  in  order.  Patience 
now  ceases  to  be  a  virtue,  and  he  let  out — and,  of  all 
the  swearing  that  had  been  heard  that  day,  his  was 
most  satanic — 'twas  awful.  The  Lieutenant  gave  it  up, 
and  acknowledged  that  all  M.  D.'s  would  swear. 

Colonel  Post's  brigade  was  now  constituted  rear 
guard  to  the  corps  train,  and  was,  of  course,  the  last  to 
cross  the  river,  and  will  be  the  last  to  cross  the  Sand 
Mountain,  which  now  looms  up  before  us.  The  cross 
ing  will  be  most  difficult.  The  road  is  said  to  be  very 
rugged,  and  in  many  places  so  steep  that  it  will  be  im 
possible  for  the  teams  to  pull  the  wagons  up.  The 
passage  of  the  Alps,  in  miniature,  is  before  us,  and 
Colonel  Post,  in  size  and  stature,  as  he  directs  the  men 
in  their  labors,  brings  to  mind  the  "Little  Corporal," 
as  he  is  represented  in  the  "passage  of  those  alpine 
hights." 

Early  in  the  morning  the  ascent  of  the  train  com- 


216  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

mences.  The  four  regiments  of  the  brigade  have  gone 
on,  and  been  distributed  along  the  ascent  by  detach 
ments,  so  as  to  be  in  readiness  to  assist  any  of  the  teams 
that  should  be  unable  to  make  the  "riffle."  The  road, 
in  its  tortuous  course,  was  frequently  obstructed  by 
huge  flat  rock,  broken  square,  so  that  the  wagon- 
wheels  would  have  to  be  lifted  twelve  or  fifteen  inches 
perpendicularly  to  get  over  them.  At  such  places,  as 
many  men  as  could  get  near  the  wagon  would  lay  hold 
and  hoist  it,  and  then  the  rnules  could  again  proceed. 
About  two  o'clock  the  trains  succeeded  in  reaching  the 
top  of  the  mountain,  and  the  brigade  then  moved  on 
for  two  or  three  miles,  and  took  up  quarters  for  the 
night.  The  descent  was  almost  as  difficult  as  the 
ascent,  and  the  brigade  was  again  stationed  at  the  diffi 
cult  places,  as  before.  Where  the  declivity  was  steep 
large  ropes  were  fastened  to  the  rear  of  the  wagons,  and 
grasped  by  as  many  soldiers  as  was  necessary  to  keep 
the  wagon  from  rushing  upon  and  crushing  the  mules 
in  front.  The  crossing  of  Sand  Mountain  was  accom 
plished,  and  the  brigade  again  went  into  quarters. 

From  the  2d  day  of  September  until  the  6th,  the 
trains  were  moved  by  easy  stages  towards  the  foot  of 
Lookout  Mountain,  at  a  point  called  Valley  Head.  Here 
they  went  into  corral  to  await  the  movements  of  the 
army  in  the  front.  The  brigade,  of  course,  also  went 
into  quarters.  Valley  Head  is  about  forty  miles  from 
Chattanooga,  and  about  the  same  distance  from  Rome, 
Ga.  It  is  enclosed  by  Sand  Mountain  on  the  west,  and 
Lookout  Mountain  on  the  east.  It  extends  between 
these  mountains  from  this  point  up  to  the  Tennessee 
River.  It  is  a  very  narrow  valley,  and  is  poorly  im 
proved.  An  occasional  plantation  only  being  met  with. 
Here,  at  Valley  Head,  are  two  or  three  good  planta- 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  217 

tions,  but  very  much  impaired  by  the  depredations  of 
the  soldier,  both  rebel  and  Union.  Here  the  fences 
had  been  burned  from  many  of  the  fields,  and  some 
buildings  destroyed  by  the  rebels  before  the  Union  sol 
diers  came  to  the  neighborhood.  The  plantation  on 
which  the  brigade  was  now  camped,  was  in  a  measure 
destroyed  by  the  rebel  soldiers.  Major  Winston,  the 
owner  of  the  plantation,  had  been  opposed  to  the  war, 
and  had  suffered  these  depredations  in  consequence. 

On  the  10th,  the  trains  were  again  in  motion.  They 
moved  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  again  went 
into  corral.  The  Fifty-Ninth  Regiment  moved  to  the 
top  of  the  mountain,  and  bivouaced  about  two  miles  in 
advance  of  the  wagons.  Here  it  lay  until  the  13th, 
when  it  was  again  moved  down  to  the  foot  of  the 
mountain. 

The  road  up  the  Lookout  Mountain  is  here  very 
good,  and  offers  no  great  obstructions  to  the  passage  of 
the  trains.  It  winds  around  all  the  steep  acclivities, 
and  misses  all  the  large  rock  that  project  from  the  sides 
of  this  mountain.  Huge  masses  of  rock  are  everywhere 
hanging  from  the  top  and  sides  of  this  mountain;  in 
some  places  affording  "look  out"  points,  from  which 
may  be  seen  the  valley  beneath,  and  the  mountains 
around  as  far  as  vision  can  extend.  It  is  from  these 
points  that  the  mountain  derives  its  name  of  " Look 
out."  A  few  rods  from  the  road  is  one  of  these  pro 
jections,  allowing  a  full  view  of  Valley  Head  with  all 
its  surroundings. 

On  the  18th,  the  brigade  again  ascended  the  moun 
tain,  and  made  a  forced  march  of  a.bout  twenty-five 
miles  towards  Chattanooga,  going  into  camp  sometime 
after  night,  not  far  below  Dug  Gap,  and  near  the  east 
ern  summit  of  the  mountain. 


218  FIFTY-NINTH    KEGIMENT 

The  19th  was  spent  in  camp,  with  orders  to  be  ready 
to  move  at  a  moment's  warning.  A  battle  was  now 
momentarily  expected  to  take  place  in  the  valley  below, 
and  the  boys  were  very  restless.  Not  far  from  camp 
was  a  famous  "look  out,"  and  hundreds  of  the  soldiers 
visited  it  through  the  day  for  the  purpose  of  viewing 
the  "landscape  o'er."  From  this  point,  the  whole  of 
Lookout,  or  Chattanooga  Valley  could  be  seen.  For 
miles  the  valley  is  spread  out  to  the  view  in  all  its  vari- 
agated  loveliness.  Plantations,  with  their  white  man 
sions  visible,  here  and  there  are  seen,  nestled  as  it  were, 
in  dark,  deep  forests;  wreaths  of  smoke  ascending  from 
the  depths  of  other  clumps  of  dark,  dense  foliage,  indi 
cates  the  habitations  of  other  dwellers  in  the  valley,  yet 
no  house  is  seen.  Nearer  by,  the  open  fields,  with  their 
herds  of  cattle  and  their  flocks  in  pasture,  as  yet  undis 
turbed  by  the  ruthless  soldier,  and  close  by  the  plan 
ter's  house  and  negro  cabins.  These  may  be  seen  with 
the  naked  eye.  "With  a  field  glass  or  telescope,  another 
feature  is  added  to  the  scene.  Soldiers,  both  cavalry 
and  infantry  could  be  seen  inarching  in  the  distance, 
far  over  towards  the  Chicamauga.  From  this  deep  val 
ley,  now  comes  up  the  booming  of  distant  cannon,  ad 
ding  deep  interest  to  the  scene.  The  armies  are  as  yet 
only  feeling  for  each  others  weakness — to-morrow  they 
will  try  each  others  strength. 

All  day  the  point  was  crowded  with  eager  eyes,  look 
ing  over  that  vast  field  of  vision.  And  in  the  morning, 
as  early  as  the  light  permitted,  some  returned  to  see 
what  change  the  night  might  have  produced,  and  they 
were  well  satisfied  writh  their  early  visit.  Before  the 
sun  began  to  shed  his  rays  above  the  horizon,  the  scene 
presented  in  the  valley  below  reminded  one  ot  an  ocean 
of  water.  The  smoke  and  fog  had  settled  through  the 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  219 

night  on  all  the  lower  lands  of  the  valley,  and  resem 
bled  in  appearance  the  blue  of  the  deep  waters  of  the 
ocean.  The  ridges  in  the  valley  elevated  the  tops  of 
the  trees  growing  upon  them,  above  this  canopy  of 
smoke,  and  gave  them  the  appearance  of  islands  in  the 
ocean.  As  soon  as  the  god  of  day  began  to  pencil  the 
horizon  with  his  rays,  the  oceanic  illusion  vanished.  At 
first  a  faint  tinge  of  red  appeared,  and  from  this  the 
redness  gradually  increased  and  grew  broader  and 
deeper  until  his  whole  broad  face  was  visible.  Redder 
and  more  fiery  than  any  living  coal  was  his  appearance. 
It  was  not  the  white  heat  of  noon- day,  but  the  most 
brilliant  red  immaginable.  The  sight  was  most  mag 
nificent — most  sublime.  The  setting  sun,  as  witnessed 
from  the  "point"  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  moun 
tain  was  most  beautiful — but  this  was  most  sublime. 

At  seven  o'clock  the  order  came  to  march.  At  eight 
the  brigade  was  in  motion,  and  in  an  hour  it  was 
wending  its  way  across  the  valley  towards  the  battle 
field  of  Chickamauga.  About  twelve  o'clock  it  had 
reached  the  "Crawfish  Springs,"  and  formed  in  position 
to  resist  an  expected  attack  from  the  enemy.  Before 
getting  to  the  Springs  rebels  had  been  seen  hovering  on 
the  flank  of  our  command,  and  one  or  two  shots  had 
been  fired  at  our  advanced  skirmishers. 

On  arriving  at  the  Springs  it  was  ascertained  that 
the  enemy  had  intercepted  our  march  with  too  heavy 
a  force  for  our  brigade  to  advance  against,  and  that  he 
was  also  throwing  a  large  force  upon  our  right  and 
rear.  This  was  more  than  had  been  anticipated,  and 
it  became  evident  that  there  was  now  only  one  course 
to  pursue,  and  that  was  to  get  away  from  the  Springs 
in  the  best  way  possible.  The  only  way  to  do  this  was 
to  take  the  road  towards  Chattanooga  immediately — 


220  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

this  was  done.  The  train  moved  on  in  advance,  and 
the  regiments  followed.  The  command  bivouaced 
about  live  miles  from  Chattanooga,  and  lay  on  their 
arms  that  night.  The  next  day  it  moved  two  milos 
farther  towards  town,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  22d 
continued  the  retreat  until  it  reached  the  lines  at  Chat 
tanooga.  When  within  about  one  mile  of  the  lines  the 
enemy  began  to  throw  shells  into  the  ranks.  The  bat 
tery  nearest  the  command  from  the  lines  in  town,  being 
apprised  of  the  approach  of  the  rebels,  now  came  out 
and  replied  so  vigorously  to  the  rebel  battery  that  it 
soon  withdrew  and  the  brigade  marched  in  unhurt.  In 
coming  from  the  mountain  to  the  Springs  several  strag 
glers  were  taken  prisoners  by  the  rebels.  The  Fifty- 
Ninth  lost  three  or  four  men  in  this  way.  Had  the 
brigade  been  one  hour  later  in  coming  up  to  Chatta 
nooga  it  would  have  been  cut  off  and  captured.  The 
army  had  all  fallen  back  the  day  before,  and  Post's 
command  wa-s  the  only  one  outside  of  the  strong  posi 
tion  in  front  of  towTn.  The  position  was  now  so  well 
chosen,  and  our  lines  so  compact,  that  the  enemy  dare 
not  attack  it. 

The  campaign  for  the  summer  was  now  over,  and 
the  army  intrenched  itself  at  Chattanooga.  Works 
were  immediately  constructed  sufficient  in  strength  and 
magnitude,  to  resist  any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the 
enemy  to  take  the  town,  and  the  army  quietly  awaited 
further  developments.  The  campaign  had  been  a  severe 
and  tedious  one.  The  men  were  worn  out  and  needed 
rest.  Their  clothing  was  becoming  thin  and  the 
weather  disagreeable,  so  that  they  began  to  suffer  for 
the  want  of  comfortable  covering  to  protect  them  from 
the  storm  and  against  the  cold  and  chilly  nights.  It 
was  fully  time  they  were  also  better  supplied  with  food 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  221 

as  well  as  clothing.  Rations  were  becoming  very  short. 
One  half  rations  of  bread  and  one  quarter  rations  of 
bacon  was  all  the  most  of  the  men  could  get,  and  some 
of  them,  for  a  time,  did  not  get  even  so  much  as  that. 
For  about  ten  days  after  the  occupation  of  Chattanooga 
the  men  of  the  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois  Eegimeut  received 
five  crackers  each  for  three  days'  rations,  with  about 
the  same  proportion  of  bacon.  This  was  a  near  ap 
proach  to  starvation. 

The  enemy  now  invested  Chattanooga  closely;  artil 
lery  firing  was  practiced  daily,  and  many  a  laugh  was 
had  at  the  expense  of  the  rebel  shells.  Thousands  of 
shells  were  thrown  at  Chattanooga  during  the  seige, 
without  doing  any  damage  of  any  kind,  except,  perhaps, 
in  one  case.  It  was  said  that  a  negro  man,  while  bring 
ing  water  from  the  spring,  was  shot  through  by  a  solid 
six-pound  ball.  This,  however,  is  doubted. 

One  of  the  boys  of  Company  K,  of  the  Fifty-Ninth, 
was  frying  his  ration  of  bacon  one  morning  when  a 
twelve  pounder  struck  his  pan  and  knocked  it  into  the 
"middle  of  next  week,"  and  the  boy  lost  his  bacon. 

The  Fifty-Ninth  lay  behind  breast-works  on  the  left 
bank  of  Chattanooga  Creek,  and  the  rebel  pickets  were 
stationed  on  the  opposite  bank,  not  over  two  hundred 
yards  distant.  The  water  from  the  creek  supplied  both 
parties,  and  meetings  would  frequently  take  place  be 
tween  the  boys  and  the  rebels,  when  they  would  have  a 
friendly  chat  and  a  tobacco  or  newspaper  trade.  An 
understanding  was  had  between  the  parties  that  there 
should  be  no  shooting  at  each  other.  These  friendly 
relations  continued  until  the  regiment  was  removed  to 
another  part  of  the  field. 

The  month  of  October  was  a  very  wet,  rainy  month, 
and  caused  &ome  sickness  in  the  regiment.  Several  of 


222  FIFTY-NINTH   KEGIMENT. 

the  men  were  compelled  to  give  up  doing  duty  and  go 
to  hospital,  amongst  whom  was  Sergeant  William  Cur 
tis,  of  Company  K,  David  M.  Minard,  of  Company  A, 
Sergeant  Marcus  D.  Leigh,  of  Company  F,  and  John 
B.  Forester,  of  Company  F.  These  were  all  young 
men  of  exemplary  reputations  for  good  moral  conduct 
and  soldierly  behavior  in  all  their  intercourse  with  the 
regiment.  They  had  undergone  all  the  hardships,  and 
endured  all  the  exposure  and  fatigue  of  all  the  marches 
and  campaigns,  and  been  in  all  the  battles  the  regiment 
had  experienced  since  being  in  the  service.  The  friends 
and  relations  of  these  young  men  have  now  to  mourn 
them  as  numbered  among  the  honored  dead.  Sergeant 
Curtis  died  at  Chattanooga  on  the  26th  of  October, 

1863,  William  M.  Minard  on  the  2d  of  December,  1863, 
Sergeant  Leigh  died  at  JSTashville  on  the  26th  of  De 
cember,  1863,  soon  after  being  removed  from  Chatta 
nooga,  and  John  B.  Forester  on  the  7th  day  of  January, 

1864,  at  Louisville,  Kentucky. 

About  the  middle  of  October  the  regiment  crossed 
the  Tennessee  River,  and  went  up  into  the  Sequatchie 
Valley,  with  a  train,  after  forage.  It  was  gone  three 
days,  and  had  a  good  time  of  it.  In  the  Valley  the 
boys  found  plenty  of  hogs,  chickens,  honey,  and  other 
luxuries,  which  were  unsparingly  appropriated.  An 
order  to  go  foraging  was  always  hailed  with  delight, 
as  it  promised  better  living  than  was  usually  to  be  had 
in  camp. 

The  question  is  frequently  discussed  in  camp,  "Why 
re  we  not  better  provided  for — why  are  we  compelled 
to  live  on  hard  bread  and  old  bacon?"  We  are  fighting 
our  own  battles,  at  our  own  expense,  and  we  are  able 
and  willing  to  pay  for  good  living.  Why  do  we  not 
get  it?  Is  the  question  an  unreasonable  one?  Can 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  223 

any  one  satisfactorily  explain  the  reason  why  our  sol 
diers  are  restricted  to  a  certain  kind  of  food  ?  and  such 
food,  too,  as  no  man  thinks  of  living  on  at  home.  The 
expense  of  providing  good  palatable  diet — such  as 
bread,  with  salt  and  shortening  in  it,  instead  of  that 
which  is  so  hard  and  tasteless — with  potatoes,  beans, 
fruit,  etc.,  etc., — would  be  more  than  saved  by  pre 
serving  the  health  of  the  men,  and  thereby  keeping 
them  on  duty,  instead  of  having  them  become  scorbutic 
and  worthless  to  the  Government,  and  not  only  worth 
less,  but  a  useless  expense.  After  the  scurvy  is  estab 
lished  in  the  system  of  the  soldier,  a  more  generous 
diet  is  resorted  to  for  the  removal  of  the  disease.  "Why 
not  provide  the  diet  as  a  preventive  to  the  disease  ? 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


On  the  25th  of  October,  the  brigade  left  Chattanooga 
for  Shell  Mound.  Early  in  the  morning,  before  the  sun 
had  risen,  the  Fifty-Xinth  broke  camp  and  marched 
down  to  the  river.  The  other  regiments  of  the  brigade 
were  crossing  over  on  the  pontoon  bridge  below  town, 
and  the  Fifty-Xinth  fell  into  column  at  the  proper  time 
and  crossed  over. 

The  bridge  at  this  point  is  about  three  hundred  yards 
long,  and  requires  fifty-two  pontoons  to  float  it.  A  few 
nights  before  the  regiment  crossed,  the  rebels  sent  a 
large  raft,  made  of  heavy  timber,  down  the  river,  which 
striking  the  bridge,  stove  it  into  pieces.  It  did  not  take 
long  to  repair  it,  and  very  little  damage  was  done  by 
this  sharp  trick. 

After  crossing:,  the  command  took  the  road  leading 

O 7  O 

down  through  the  river  bottom  lands  for  five  miles, 
when  it  reached  the  foot  of  the  Sequatchie  Mountain. 
Here  it  rested  a  short  time,  and  the  men  refreshed  them 
selves  with  a  hard  tack  and  a  slice  of  bacon.  Before 
them  now  looms  up  a  mountain,  around  the  side  of 
which  wrinds  a  road  four  miles  long,  which  they  must 
climb.  The  bugle  sounds,  and  the  march  up  the  moun 
tain  commences.  Had  there  been  nothing  to  attract 
attention  on  the  way,  the  march  would  have  been  a 
toilsome  one,  but  as  it  was,  the  men  did  not  think  of 
getting  weary.  The  road  in  many  places  was  mnrked 

(224) 


FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.       225 

by  objects  of  much  interest  on  the  side  of  the  road 
next  the  mountain.  Masses  of  rock  of  all  shapes  and 
of  every  dimension  meet  the  view.  Some  of  these 
appeared  just  ready  to  fall,  and  crush  the  column  as 
it  passed.  Here  was  one  forming  a  perpendicular  wall, 
of  a  hundred  feet  in  bight,  and  three  hundred  in  length; 
and  then  another  of  as  large  dimensions,  in  appearance 
like  to  an  old  ancient  castle  set  in  the  side  of  the 
mountain.  Here  is  another,  with  an  opening  to  a 
cave  within,  of  unknown  extent.  There  issues  a  stream 
of  limpid  water  large  enough  to  turn  the  wheels  of 
fortune;  and  not  far  from  this,  a  beautiful  jet  of 
pure,  cold  water  bursts,  as  it  were,  from  out  the  solid 
rock,  and  trickles  along,  way  clown  the  mountain,  in 
pearly  drops.  At  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  the  Ten 
nessee  River  urges  its  way  through  its  narrow  rock- 
bound  channel,  in  billowy  grandeur.  It  is  only  now 
and  then  that  its  waters  can  be  seen  from  the  line  of 
march,  but  when  they  are,  it  is  only  to  cause  a  frequent 
turning  of  the  eye  in  that  direction  to  get  another 
glimpse. 

In  this  passage  up  the  mountain,  there  is  one  place, 
of  half  a  mile  in  length,  which  is  called  the  "Narrows." 
From  the  high  bluffs,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
a  minnie  ball  may  be  thrown  against  the  rocks  above 
the  road,  on  the  Sequatchie  Mountain.  Several  mules 
and  one  or  two  men  had  been  killed  while  passing  these 
narrows  by  rebel  sharp  shooters,  from  the  bluffs  across 
the  river.  Two  or  three  shots  were  fired  at  the  column 
now  passing,  but  no  one  was  hit.  About  one  o'clock 
the  regiment  arrived  at  the  summit  of  the  mountain, 
and  there  halted  for  dinner. 

After  dinner  and  an  hour's  rest,  the  march  was  con 
tinued.     The  road  now  taken  is  called  the  Old  Ridge 
(15) 


226  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

Road.  It  leads  along  the  summit  of  this  ridge  for 
twenty  miles.  Sometimes  the  ridge  is  just  broad  enough 
for  the  passage  of  a  single  wagon,  and  at  these  places 
you  can  look  down,  down,  down,  until  your  head 
swims.  There  are  some  very  good  "look  out"  points 
on  this  ridge. 

The  regiment  went  into  camp  on  the  evening  of  the 
26th,  near  one  of  these  points,  and  had  the  pleasure  of 
witnessing  the  departure  of  Old  Sol,  as  he  disappeared 
below  the  horizon.  It  was  a  pretty  sight.  During  the 
twilight  they  had  an  opportunity  of  looking  up  and 
down  the  Sequatchie  Valley,  as  it  lay  in  the  depths  be 
low.  It  had  the  appearance  of  being  a  very  rich  and 
finely  cultivated  country.  Farms  and  farm  houses  were 
quite  numerous  and  seemed  snug  and  inviting. 

The  descent  from  this  mountain  summit  commenced 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  and  after  ascending 
and  descending  innumerable  acclivities  and  declivities, 
the  regiment  went  into  camp  on  the  bank  of  the  Ten 
nessee  River.  Here  it  was  expected  that  the  command 
would  be  ferried  across  the  river,  at  what  was  called 
Brown's  Ferry,  but  after  about  two  hours  in  quarters, 
the  order  came  to  march.  It  was  still  about  seven 
miles  to  Shell  Mound,  and  this  was  the  distance  now  to 
be  marched.  The  sun  was  setting,  as  the  regiment 
moved  out,  and  about  nine  o'clock  it  crossed  the  river 
at  Shell  Mound,  and  went  into  camp  again. 

Shell  Mound  is  seven  miles  above  Bridgeport,  and 
twenty-one  below  Chattanooga.  To  get  from  Chatta 
nooga  here,  the  command  had  marched  sixty-miles. 
Shell  Mound  derives  its  name  from  the  innumerable 
quantity  of  shells  that  is  piled  up  there.  The  entire 
mound  is  composed  of  muscle  shell,  as  though  they  had 
been  hauled  there  and  tilted  from  the  cart.  Their  nurn- 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  227 

ber  is  most  astonishing.  It  might  be  supposed  that  all 
the  muscles  from  the  first  creation  to  the  present  time 
had  made  this  their  charnel  house. 

If  some  shrewd  Yankee  should  ever  take  it  into  his 
head  to  load  a  few  flat-boats  with  these  shells,  and  have 
them  pulverized  and  barreled  up,  he  could  make  a  for 
tune  by  selling  the  powder  as  a  fertilizer  for  Northern 
farms.  This  bed  of  shells  is  ten  feet  deep  at  the  river 
brink,  and  covers  several  acres,  in  some  places  to  a 
greater  depth. 

At  this  place  is  another  great  curiosity — the  "ISTegro 
Jack  Cave,"  as  it  is  called  by  the  natives.  The  entrance 
to  this  cave  is  large — perhaps  twenty  feet  wide,  and 
fifteen  feet  to  the  arch  above.  The  arch  is  most  beauti 
fully  turned,  smooth  and  regular.  The  smoke  from 
the  fires  which  have  been  kindled  under  this  arch  has 
given  it  a  cloudy  appearance,  which  is  very  pretty* 
This  is  a  saltpetre  cave,  and  the  rebels  have  had  very 
extensive  works  through  it.  Around  the  entrance,  on 
the  outside,  are  furnaces  and  kettles;  on  the  inside  are 
hundreds  of  filterers,  or  hoppers,  for  filtering  the  clay, 
whach  holds  the  saltpetre.  On  penetrating  fifty  or 
sixty  feet  within,  the  light  disappears,  and  it  is  neces 
sary  to  use  torches  or  candles  to  see  the  way  over  the 
slimy  hillocks  of  mud  and  broken  stone,  which  fill  the 
passages.  The  cave  is  said  to  be  fifteen  miles  in  length. 
There  is  a  large  stream  of  water  running  through  it, 
which  has  been  ascended  by  canoes  for  ten  miles,  from 
the  entrance.  This  stream  Hows  out  from  an  opening 
a  short  distance  to  the  right  of  the  mouth  of  the  cave, 
in  size  sufficient  to  turn  a  large  grist  mill.  It  is  crossed 
on  a  plank  bridge,  about  five  hundred  feet  from  the 
mouth  of  the  cave.  The  water  can  not  be  seen,  but  a 
stone  dropped  from  the  bridge  can  be  heard  as  it 


228  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

plunges  into  the  water  far  below.  The  walls,  in  some 
places,  are  very  rough,  and  in  others  quite  smooth. 

Some  distance,  after  crossing  the  river,  you  come  to 
a  small  chamber,  which  is  very  pretty.  It  is,  perhaps, 
twenty  feet  square.  The  ceiling  is  ornamented  with 
stalactites,  resembling  icicles,  and  the  walls  are  perpen 
dicular  and  smooth.  The  corners  and  the  edges  of  the 
ceiling  are  as  though  they  had  been  ornamented  by 
some  master  workman.  There  are  many  different  pas* 
sages  leading  from  the  main  entrance,  and  great  atten 
tion  is  required,  or  you  lose  your  way. 

"When  Buell's  army  was  here  some  of  his  boys  got 
lost  in  this  cave,  and  were  three  days  in  finding  the 
way  out,  and  would  not  then  if  a  band  of  music  had 
not  went  in,  and  blowed  their  instruments,  which  were 
heard  by  the  wanderers,  and  thus  discovered  to  them 
the  direction  they  ought  to  take.  While  seeking  their 
way  out,  these  boys  came  across  the  body  of  a  Lieuten 
ant,  who  had  lost  his  way,  and  thus  perished.  This 
cave  received  the  name  of  "]STegro  Jack"  because  of  its 
having  been  the  hiding  place  of  an  old  negro  by  that 
name,  in  an  early  day. 

There  had  been  a  small  town  at  Shell  Mound,  and 
the  railroad  depot  was  yet  standing  when  our  boys  got 
there,  but  the  next  morning  it  was  torn  down  to  make 
shelters  and  fires  for  the  men.  It  was  a  nice  brick 
depot,  and  its  destruction  ought  not  to  have  been  al 
lowed.  It  was  the  last  of  Shell  Mound  City.  The 
saltpetre  works  are  all  destroyed,  and  there  is  nothing 
here  now  of  interest  but  the  pontoon  bridge  across  the 
river. 

The  regiments  lay  at  Shell  Mound  two  days,  and 
then  moved  up  to  Whitesides,  seven  miles  nearer  Chat 
tanooga.  Here  the  brigade  wient  into  winter  quarters. 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  229 

Whiteside -Station  is  fourteen  miles  below  Chattanooga, 
and  is  at  the  foot  of  Raccoon  Mountain,  in  Marion 
County,  Tennessee.  Camp  is  situated  on  the  side  of 
the  mountain,  just  above  the  railroad,  and  is  within 
protecting  distance  of  the  "  Falling  Waters "  railroad 
bridge,  now  in  course  of  reconstruction.  This  bridge 
was  destroyed  by  the  rebels  on  the  approach  of  Buell's 
army.  It  was  a  fine  structure,  and  cost  ninety-five 
thousand  dollars.  It  was  five  hundred  feet  in  length, 
and  ninety-five  feet  in  hight. 

The  mountain  summit  is  at  least  a  thousand  feet 
above  camp.  Near  the  top  is  a  large  ledge  of  rock,  and 
just  below  this  ledge  is  an  opening  to  a  coal  mine 
These  mountains  are  full  of  coal,  and  there  are  several 
mines  within  a  short  distance  of  camp. 

The  chute  from  the  one  above  the  depot,  deposits  the 
coal  near  where  it  is  loaded  upon  the  cars  for  shipment. 
These  chutes  are  square  tunnels,  made  of  boards.  By 
putting  the  coal  in  at  the  top,  it  is  conducted,  with  the 
rapidity  of  a  cannon  ball,  to  the  bottom.  The  boys  are 
now  amusing  themselves  by  throwing  large  stones  into 
this  chute,  and  watching  them  come  out  at  the  bottom. 
Below  camp  runs  a  small  mountain  stream  called  the 
"Falling  Waters."  On  the  opposite  side  of  this  stream 
rises  another  mountain,  to  the  hi^ht  of  two  thousand 

/  o 

feet.  The  Ninth  Indiana  Regiment  is  stationed  on  the 
summit  of  this  mountain. 

While  at  Chattanooga,  the  army  was  reorganized, 
and,  instead  of  four  regiments,  there  were  now  eighL 
in  a  brigade.  Colonel  Post  was  now  acting  as  Presi « 
dent  of  a  Board  of  Claims,  and  Colonel  Gross,  of  the 
Thirty-Sixth  Indiana,  was  in  command  of  the  brigade. 
The  brigade  consisted  of  the  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois,  Sev 
enty-Fifth  Illinois,  Eightieth  Illinois,  Ninth  Indiana, 


280  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

Thirty^Sixth  Indiana,  Ninety-Sixth  Ohio,  and  Eighty- 
Fourth  Illinois  Eegiments.  The  eighth  regiment  had 
not  yet  joined  the  brigade. 

Colonel  P.  Sidney  Post,  on  relinquishing  the  com 
mand  of  the  First  Brigade  of  General  Davis'  old  divis 
ion,  which  was  consolidated  in  the  new  organization, 
issued  the  following  order  : 

"  HEADQU'RS  IST  BRIG.,  IST  Div.,20TH  ARMY  CORPS, 

"  Chattanooga,  Oct.  16,  '63. 

"  General  Order  No.  51. — In  the  organization  of  the 
army,  this  brigade  will  lose  its  indentity,  and  be  trans 
ferred  to  another  division  and  corps.  Organized  on 
the  banks  of  the  Ohio  more  than  a  year  ago,  it  has 
traversed  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  scaled  the  moun 
tains  of  Northern  Alabama  and  Georgia,  and  now  ter 
minates  its  existence  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Tennes 
see.  The  year  during  which  it  has  remained  intact 
will  ever  be  remembered  as  that  in  which  the  gallant 
armies  of  the  West  rolled  back  the  advancing  hosts  of 
the  rebellion,  and  extinguished  the  Confederacy  in  the 
valley  of  the  Mississippi.  In  accomplishing  this  glo 
rious  achievement,  you — soldiers  of  the  First  Brigade — 
have  performed  no  mean  part.  On  the  laborious  march 
you  have  been  patient  and  energetic,  and  in  the  skir 
mish  and  battle  second  to  none  in  stubborn  valor  and 
success.  In  one  year  you  lost  upon  the  battle-field 
eight  hundred  and  fifty  heroic  comrades.  Baptised  in 
blood  at  Perry ville,  this  brigade  led  the  army  in  pur 
suit  of  the  retreating  foe,  and  again  attacks  him  at 
Lancaster,  whence  he  fled  from  Kentucky.  In  the  mid 
winter  campaign  it  opened  the  battle  at  Stone  River, 
by  attacking  and  driving  the  enemy  from  JSTolensville,  on 
the  memorable  31st  of  December,  together  with  tho 


ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  231 

rest  of  the  Twentieth  Army  Corps  valiantly  met  the 
attack  of  the  concentrated  opposing  army.  At  Liberty 
Gap,  and  in  the  late  battle  of  Chickamauga,  it  per 
formed  well  the  part  assigned  it,  and  finishes  its  hon 
orable  career  weaker  in  number  but  strong  in  the  con 
fidence  and  discipline  of  invincible  veterans.  For  the 
able  and  hearty  co-operations  its  commander  has  re 
ceived  from  the  officers,  and  for  the  cheerful  support 
yielded  by  its  gallant  men,  he  returns  his  sincere  thanks. 
"No  petty  jealousies,  no  intrigue  or  demoralizing  influ 
ences,  have  ever  disgraced  and  paralized  our  efforts  for 
the  country's  cause;  and  the  commander  unites  in  the 
just  pride  which  all  feel  in  the  history  of,  and  in 
their  connection  with,  the  First  Brigade,  First  Divis 
ion,  Twentieth  Army  Corps. 

"P.  SIDKEY  POST, 
"Colonel  Commanding  Brigade. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 


On  the  morning  of  the  28d  of  November,  the  brigade 
broke  up  camp  at  Whitesides  and  took  up  the  line  of 
march  towards  Chattanooga.  About  six  o'clock  that 
evening  it  went  into  quarters  at  the  foot  of  Lookout 
Mountain.  The  anticipation  was  that  the  command 
would  cross  the  river  the  next  morning  and  join  Gen 
eral  Sherman,  who  was  about  engaging  the  enemy 
above  Chattanooga.  This  anticipation  was  not  real 
ized.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  the  men  were 
under  arms  and  facing  the  Lookout.  Soon  the  column 
commenced  moving,  and  now  the  object  of  the  move 
became  apparent — which  was  no  less  than  the  storming 
of  Lookout  Mountain.  Is  it  possible  that  these  men 
are  to  march  up  that  rugged  mountain  side  in  the 
face  of  a  relentless  foe  above,  who  are  prepared  to 
hurl  destruction  down  upon  them  from  the  hight. 
Nothing  daunted  by  the  formidable  task  assigned  them, 
the  troops  moved  boldly  forward.  The  enemy  resisted 
stubbornly,  but  could  not  withstand  the  onward  move 
of  our  brave  men.  The  fight  was  terrific  for  about  five 
hours.  The  Third  brigade  acted  nobly,  and  the  Fifty- 
Ninth  Illinois  added  new  laurels  to  her  war-worn  ban 
ner.  Not  a  man  wavered,  but  each  vied  with  the  other 
in  urging  on  the  advance. 

Those  who  witnessed  the  maneuvering  of  the  men — 
and  every  move  could  be  seen  from  Chattanooga  and 

(232) 


FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.       233 

the  adjacent  hills — expressed  the  greatest  admiration  at 
the  masterly  manner  in  which  the  regiments  made  their 
charges.  The  Fifty-Ninth  retained  an  unbroken  line 
during  the  whole  of  this  arduous  contest.  General 
Hooker,  who  witnessed  the  whole  affair,  remarked  that 
he  never  saw  a  more  perfect  line  of  battle  maintained 
by  any  regiment,  during  successive  charges,  than  was 
here  maintained  by  the  Fifty-Ninth  Illinois.  The  regi 
ment  lost  but  one  killed  and  three  wounded.  The  rebels 
invariably  over-shot  us.  James  Medford,  of  Company 
G,  was  killed  while  in  the  act  of  shooting  at  the  enemy. 

The  morning  of  the  25th  revealed  to  all  in  the  valley 
below  the  glorious  flag  of  the  Union  floating  over  the 
point  of  Lookout. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  our  brigade  again 
advanced  and  skirmished  with  the  enemy  all  the  way 
across  Chattanooga  Valley  to  Missionary  Eidge.  Here 
the  enemy  attempted  to  make  another  stand.  With  a 
shout  our  men  charged  upon  them  with  fixed  bayonets 
and  again  put  them  to  flight.  In  this  charge  the  Fift}'- 
Ninth  was  in  the  advance,  and  was  the  first  regiment 
to  reach  the  summit  of  the  Ridge.  Although  the  charge 
was  a  most  dangerous  one,  only  one  man  of  the  regi 
ment  was  wounded. 

The  regiment  lay  on  the  Ridge  that  night,  and  at 
sunrise  continued  the  pursuit.  On  the  morning  of  the 
28th,  the  command  reached  Ringgold,  eighteen  miles 
from  Chattanooga.  At  this  place  the  rebels  made  an 
other  stand,  and  the  battle  raged  most  furiously  all  the 
forenoon,  but  terminated  in  the  complete  rout  of  the 
enemy.  The  Fifty-Ninth  was  on  the  field  and  in  line 
of  battle,  but  did  not  become  engaged. 

After  the  battle,  the  Third  Brigade  was  ordered  to 
move  five  miles  down  the  railroad  towards  Tunnel  Hill, 


234  FIFTY-NINTH   REGIMENT 

and  ascertain  how  far  the  rebs  had  gone.  About  four 
miles  from  town  a  line  of  battle  was  discovered  in  our 
front,  and  the  brigade  w-as  halted.  Here  it  remained 
'till  after  dark,  when  many  fires  were  ki-ndled  as  if  it 
was  intended  to  remain  all  night,  but  the  men  silently 
withdrew  behind  the  lights  and  returned  to  town. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  30th,  the  brigade  started  on 
its  return  to  Whitesides.  The  division  returned 
through  the  Chickamauga  battle  field,  and  spent  all  the 
1st  day  of  December  in  burying  the  dead  that  had  been 
left  unburied  by  the  rebs.  After  over  two  months'  ex 
posure,  there  was  nothing  left  of  the  bodies  but  bones 
to  bury.  Hundreds  of  these  were  found  and  covered. 
They  had  buried  their  own  dead,  but  the  Union  soldier 
was  left  to  moulder  where  he  fell.  On  the  6th  day  of 
December  the  regiment  again  went  into  winter  quar 
ters,  in  their  old  camp  at  Whitesides. 

There  was  now  a  fair  prospect  of  remaining  in  camp 
for  some  time,  and  the  boys  went  to  work  in  earnest  to 
prepare  themselves  comfortable  shanties.  In  a  few 
days  they  were  all  comfortably  housed,  and  ready  for 
all  kinds  of  mischief. 

Corporal  William  A.  Gilbert  was  left  in  hospital  at 
Whitesides  when  the  regiment  marched,  and  soon 
after  its  return  he  departed  this  life.  He  was  buried 
with  the  honors  of  war,  on  a  pleasant  spot  above  camp, 
on  the  side  of  Raccoon  Mountain. 

The  regiment,  on  this  expedition,  was  commanded 
by  Major  Clayton  Hale,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Winters 
having  resigned  and  gone  home,  a  short  time  before 
the  regiment  moved.  Captain  James  II.  Stookey  was 
Acting  Major.  These  two  officers,  soon  afterwards, 
received  a  promotion — the  one,  Major  Hale,  received  a 
commission  as  Lieutenant-Colonel;  the  other,  Captain 


\ 

ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  235 

Stookey,  a  commission  as  Major  of  the  Fifty-jN"inth 
Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers.  Captain  Stookey's  pro 
motion  was  highly  pleasing  to  the  men  of  the  regiment. 
By  his  unassuming  manners,  and  kindly  disposition,  he 
had  obtained  the  good  will  and  esteem,  not  only  of  the 
men  belonging  to  his  own  company,  but  of  the  whole 
regiment.  He  had  proven  himself  a  brave,  good  of 
ficer,  and  one  of  the  best  tacticians  in  the  regiment. 
His  promotion  was  richly  merited.  Major  Hale  had 
never  taken  any  pains  to  conciliate  the  feelings  of  the 
men  towards  himself,  but  had  ever  been  reticent  in  his 
manners  towards  the  private  soldier,  and,  consequently, 
had  lost  that  feeling  of  regard  which  friendly  com- 
munings,  and  social  manners,  always  engenders. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


"While  the  regiment  lay  at  Ringgold,  an  order  was 
received  at  head-quarters  authorizing  the  enlistment  of 
veteran  volunteers,  to  serve  for  three  years,  or  during 
the  war,  with  the  proviso  that  those  who  had  been  in 
service  for  two  ye-ars  would  be  accepted,  and  none 
others;  and  that  each  should  receive  a  bounty  of  four 
hundred  and  two  dollars,  and  a  thirty  days  furlough ; 
and,  also,  that  their  old  term  of  service  should  expire, 
and  their  new  term  commence,  on  the  day  of  enlist 
ment.  Some  fifteen  or  twenty  re-enlisted  immediately, 
and,  after  returning  to  "Whitesides,  some  two  hundred  and 
fifty  others  entered  their  names  for  the  veteran  service. 
This,  according  to  an  act  of  the  War  Department, 
constituted  the  Fifty-Ninth  a  veteran  regiment.  It, 
therefore,  now  lost  its  identity  as  the  Fifty-Ninth  Regi 
ment  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  assumed  the  name  of 
Fifty-Ninth  Veteran  Volunteer  Infantry  Regiment  of 
Illinois.  The  men  were  mustered  on  the  5t.h  day  of 
January,  1864,  as  veterans,  and,  on  the  13th  of  Feb 
ruary,  arrived  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  to  receive  their 
promised  furloughs.  On  their  arrival,  Adjutant-Gen 
eral  Fuller  addressed  to  them  the  following  beautiful 
expression  of  welcome  and  regard  : 

"I  congratulate  you  on  your  soldierly  appearance, 
and  the  favorable  auspices  under  which  you  have  re 
turned  to  fill  up  your  decimated  ranks.  The  liberal 
bounties  offered  by  the  Government,  and  the  almost 

(236) 


FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.       237 

universal  liberal  policy  adopted  by  the  several  coun 
ties  of  the  State  to  aid  and  encourage  enlistments,  to 
gether  with  the  high  character  which  your  regiment 
has  deservedly  acquired,  will,  doubtless,  attract  to  your 
ranks  hundreds  of  our  patriotic  and  loyal  young  men 
who  have  awaited  the  return  of  our  veteran  regiments 
to  identify  their  destinies  and  unite  their  fortunes  with 
them. 

"On  the  21st  of  September,  1861,  you  took  the  field 
as  undisciplined  recruits.  You  now  return  a  regiment 
of  veteran  volunteers,  and  as  such  are  entitled  to  wear 
the  badge  of  honor — the  mark  of  distinction — the  evi 
dence  of  recognition  of  your  country  for  past  meri 
torious  service. 

"So  great  was  the  rush  to  arms  in  this  State,  in  the 
early  stages  of  the  rebellion,  you  were  unable  to  obtain 
admission  as  the  I^inth  Missouri.  At  that  time  our 
sister  State  of  Missouri  was  undergoing  the  throes  of 
a  revolution  within  her  own  borders,  and  nothing  but 
the  strong  arm  of  military  power  prevented  her  from 
throwing  off  her  allegiance  to  the  General  Govern 
ment,  and  openly  espousing  the  cause  of  her  enemies. 
Your  services,  and  that  of  other  Illinois  regiments, 
did  much  to  rescue  her  from  the  abyss  of  ruin  into 
which  she  was  plunging. 

"Though  you  went  to  the  field,  and  have  returned 
from  it  unheralded,  your  history  is  not  unknown, 
nor  have  your  services  been  unnoticed.  Without  dis 
paragement  to  others,  all  of  whom  have  done  so  well, 
I  can  truly  say  that  in  no  Illinois  regiment  has  the 
State  authorities  and  the  people  of  the  State  taken 
a  stronger  interest,  or  felt  a  greater  prid.e,  than  in 
the  Fifty-Ninth.  Why  should  they  not?  The  rapid 
ity  of  your  long  marches,  your  patient  endurance,  and 


238  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

your  daring  dash  in  battles,  have  rarely,  if  ever,  been 
excelled.  The  Polish  Lancers  were  not  more  fleet,  nor 
the  French  Hussars  more  daring,  nor  the  English  vet 
erans  more  unyielding,  than  you.  And,  while  you 
have  been  making  the  circuit  of  Western  battle-fields, 
as  this,  the  general  officers  under  whom  you  have 
served,  testify  of  you. 

"We  hear  of  you  on  the  22d  of  September,  1861,  em 
barking  on  transports  at  St.  Louis  for  Jefferson  City. 
At  Jeflerson  City  on  that  day,  we  hear  of  you  at  Otter- 
ville,  on  the  1st  of  October;  at  Syracuse  on  the  14th; 
at  Warsaw,  on  the  24th;  crossing  the  Osage  on  the 
25th ;  by  forced  marches,  at  Springfield  on  the  3d  of 
November;  at  Syracuse  again  on  the  17th  of  Novem 
ber;  at  Lamoine  Bridge  preparing  winter  quarters,  De 
cember  7th;  at  Lamoine  Bridge  again  on  the  15th; 
breaking  camp  again  and  marching  in  mud,  and  rain, 
and  snow,  with  scanty  camp  and  garrison  equipage  and 
half  rations,  for  Lebanon ;  leaving  Leba-non  on  the  10th 
of  February  for  Springfield,  as  a  part  of  General  Curtis' 
army,  to  fight  the  rebels  under  Price,  at  that  place.  You 
arrive  on  the  13th,  and  find  the  enemy  fled;  pursuing 
and  fighting  the  rear  guard,  you  bring  him  to  battle 
and  fight  and  whip  him  at  Dry  Springs;  crossing  the 
Arkansas  line  on  the  19th ;  at  Cross  Hollows  on  the  22d; 
and  at  Pea  Ridge,  on  the  7th  and  8th  of  March,  shoulder 
to  shoulder,  with  the  Twenty-Fifth,  Thirty-Seventh, 
Davidson's  Battery,  and  other  Illinois  troops,  you  fight 
and  win  one  of  the  most  stubborn  and  well-contested 
battles  of  the  war. 

"  Without  rest  after  this  terrible  struggle,  and  the 
enemy  leaving  their  dead  Generals  behind,  and  fleeing 
across  the  Ozark  Mountains,  you  leave  Pea  Ridge  on 
the  10th,  and  we  hear  of  you  at  Cross  Timbers.,  April 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS.  239 

6th ;  at  Bull  Creek,  April  20th;  at  Sulphur  Rock,  May 
10th ;  and  at  Cape  Girardeau,  almost  in  sight  of  your 
homes,  May  20th;  enroute  to  reinforce  General  Hal- 
leek's  army  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  stopping  at  Paducah. 
a  short  time,  on  the  24th;  you  hear  from  Governor 
Yates,  who  there  addressed  you  cheering  words  upon 
what  had  transpired  while  you  were  in  the  "wilder 
ness;"  you  proceed  to  Hamburg  Landing,  and  partici 
pate  in  the  engagement  of  the  30th  of  that  month.  On 
the  3d  of  June  we  again  hear  from  you  at  Booneville, 
Miss.,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy ;  at  Ripley,  Miss.,  on  the 
30th;  at  Jaciuto,  Miss.,  on  the  4th  of  July;  at  luka, 
Ala.,  on  the  15th  of  August;  at  Florence,  on  the  24th; 
at  Murfreesboro',  September  2d ;  at  Nashville,  Septem 
ber  4th  ;  at  Bowling  Green,  on  the  17th  ;  at  Louisville, 
on  the  26th;  and  entering  the  fight  at  Perrysville,  on 
the  7th  of  October,  with  three  hundred  and  sixty-one 
men,  and  coming  out  of  it  with  less  than  two-thirds 
that  number. 

"The  distance  actually  marched,  from  the  time  you 
left  Booneville,  Mo.,  until  you  bivouaced  at  Franklin, 
Tenn.,  was  two  thousand  five  hundred  and  forty-seven 
miles.  With  such  a  record  of  marches  and  counter 
marches,  of  skirmishes  and  battles,  you  have  indeed 
merited  the  compliment  paid  you  by  one  of  your  Gen 
erals,  as  the  'grey  hound,  or  fleet-footed  fighting  regi 
ment  of  Illinois.' 

"I  have  no  time  to  dwell  upon  the  honorable  and  bril 
liant  part  you  bore  in  the  subsequent  battles  of  Stone 
River,  Chickamauga  and  Chattanooga.  Nine  hundred 
and  fifty-seven  men  havfe  entered  your  regiment,  at  and 
since  its  organization.  Two  hundred  and  sixty-seven 
have  re-enlisted  as  veterans.  These  figures  tell  the  tale, 
and  are  more  eloquent  of  your  praise  than  any  words 


240  FIFTY-NINTH  REGIMENT 

which  I  could  utter.  You  will  be  furloughed  for  thirty 
days,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  rendezvous  here 
for  re-organization.  The  good  people  of  Coles,  Cum 
berland,  Edgar,  Greene,  Knox,  Madison,  McDonough, 
St.  Clair  and  Warren,  who  have  an  especial  interest  in 
your  fame  and  welfare,  will  welcome  you  with  loving 
words  and  open  arms.  Return  then,  to  families  and 
friends,  and  receive  a  soldiers  welcome  and  your  coun 
try's  gratitude. 

"  But  in  your  thankfulness  to  a  kind  Providence  which, 
has  permitted  you  to  return  to  receive  }^our  children's 
love,  your  brother's  friendship,  and  your  parent's  bles 
sings,  forget  not  to  console  the  bereaved.  Bleeding 
hearts  await  you  to  learn  the  last  tidings  of  those  who 
have  wasted  away  by  disease,  or  been  stricken  down  by 
your  sides.  Comfort  bereaved  ones  by  the  assurance 
that  your  fallen  comrades  maintained  the  fair  fame  of 
a  Union  soldier  while  living,  and  died  while  manfully 
battling  for  their  country  and  their  country's  cause. 

"  General  White,  in  whom  I  recognize  a  true  gentle 
man,  a  gallant  officer  and  an  old  friend,  and  under 
whom  you  served  on  many  long  marches,  and  at  the 
memorable  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  I  feel  assured  can  not 
resist  the  temptation  to  address  his  old  comrades,  now 
impatient  to  hear  him." 

General  White  then  said:  "Fellow  soldiers  of  the 
Fifty-Ninth.  The  language  usually  employed  at  the 
meeting  of  friends,  does  not  express  the  emotion  ex 
perienced  by  me  on  this  occasion.  In  you  I  recognize 
not  only  patriots,  who  have  devoted  themselves  to  the 
rescue  of  our  country  from  the  hands  of  traitors,  but  men 
with  whom  it  was  my  fortune  to  share  the  toils,  priva 
tions  and  dangers  of  the  soldiers'  life  in  camp,  on  the 
march  and  on  the  battle-field.  The  bond  of  affection 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  241 

thus  created  is  well  known  to  officers  and  soldiers;  and 
may  it  never  be  broken," 

After  a  few  further  remarks-,  the  General  retired  and 
the  men,  on  the  reception  of  their  furloughs,  dispersed 
to  their  beloved  homes,  until  duty  again  called  them  to 
the  field. 

On  the  departure  of  the  "veterans"  for  Springfield, 
those  who  did  not  re-enlist,  to  the*  number  of  eighty, 
were  assigned  to  duty  with  the  Seventy-Fifth  Illinois 
Regiment.  Here  they  remained  until  the  Fifty-Ninth 
returned  to  the  field,  when  they  rejoined  it  an.d  con 
tinued  in  their  old  companies  until  their  term  of  service 
terminated,  which  was  on  the  6th  day  of  September, 
1864,  three  years  and  one  month  after  being  mustered 
in  at  St.  Louis.  Their  three  years'  service  really  ex 
pired  on  the  6th  day  of  August,  but  by  &orne  chicanery 
or  other  they  were  compelled  to  serve  one  month  be 
yond  that  time,  and  even  then  did  not  get  their  dis 
charge  papers  until  about  the  15th  of  September,  being 
kept  in  idleness  and  suspense  for  ten  days  after  being 
relieved  from  duty.  The  last  month  of  their  service, 
which  wa.8  the  month  of  their  conscription,  was  the 
most  arduous  and  most  dangerous  of  any  during  their 
three  years'  servitude.  It  was  the  last  month  of  Gen 
eral  Sherman's  campaign  against  Atlanta,  On  the  last 
day  of  their  term  of  service,  the  6th  of  September,  they 
made  one  of  the  most  desperate  charges  on  the  rebel 
line  of  works  that  had  ever  been  made  by  any  other 
regiment  during  the  campaign.  Several  of  the  vete 
rans  were  killed  and  many  wounded;  and  one  of  the 
non-vets,  Jacob  Rader,  of  Company  F,  whose  term  of 
service,  according  to  an  original  act  of  the  War  De 
partment,  had  expired  on  the  24th  of  June,  over  two 
months  previous,  that  being  the  day  of  his  enlistment, 
(16) 


242  FIFTY-NINTH    REGIMENT 

was  severely  if  not  mortally  wounded.  Another  one, 
James  Rowsey,  of  the  same  company,  was  mortally 
wounded  in  the  head,  and  died  in  a  few  days  afte'r- 
wards.  His  term  expired  on  the  6th  of  August,  one 
month  previous,  but  his  life  was  sacrificed  to  the  unjust 
conscription  now  being  practiced  upon  those  who  could 
<iot  consistently  re-enlist  as  veterans.  Whether  this 
injustice  was  due  to  any  act  of  the  War  Department,  or 
to  the  neglect  or  inhuman  feelings  of  the  commanders 
in  the  army  is  left  for  others  than  the  writer  to  decide. 
One  Donathy,  of  Company  K,  also  a  non-veteran, 
was  killed  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  while  making  a 
charge  on  the  enemy's  lines.  The  remainder  of  the 
non-veterans  finally  left  the  army  on  the  12th  day  of 
September,  and,  after  much  difficulty  and  great  risk, 
arrived  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  where  they  were  paid, 
and  received  .an  honorable  discharge,  and  were  now 
permitted  to  return  to  their  homes.  Long  may  they 
live  to  enjoy  the  peace  and  comfort  they  so  richly  de 
serve!  May  their  lives  be  prolonged  on  the  earth  until 
the  last  enemy  of  the  free  institutions  of  this  glorious 
Union  be  called  hence,  to  render  up  the  final  accounts 
to  Him  who  judgeth  the  quick  and  the  dead. 

"  Cheers,  cheers,  for  our  heroes! 
Not  those  who  wear  stars ; 
Not  those  who  wear  eagles, 
And  leaflets,  and  bars  ; 
We  know  they  are  gallant, 
And  honor  them  too, 
For  bravely  maintaining 
The  Red,  White,  and  Blue!  " 

"  But  cheers  for  our  soldiers, 
Rough,  wrinkled  and  brown  ; 
The  men  who  make  heroes, 
And  ask  no  renown; 


ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Unselfish,  untiring, 
Intrepid  and  true, 
The  bulwark  surrounding 
The  Red,  White,  and  Blue !  " 

"  Our  patriot  soldiers  ! 
When  treason  arose, 
And  Freedom's  own  children 
Assailed  her  as  foes ; 
When  anarchy  threatened 
And  order  withdrew, 
They  rallied  to  rescue 
The  Red,  White,  and  Blue ! " 

"Upholding  our  banner, 
On  many  a  field, 
The  doom  of  the  traitor 
They  valiantly  sealed; 
And  worn  with  the  conflict, 
Found  vigor  anew, 
Where  victory  greeted 
The  Red,  White,  and  Blue." 

"  Yet,  loved  ones  have  fallen — 
And  still  when  they  sleep, 
A  sorrowing  nation 
Shall  silently  weep ; 
And  Spring's  fairest  flowers, 
In  gratitude,  strew, 
O'er  those  who  have  cherished 
The  Red,  White,  and  Blue!" 

"  But  glory,  immortal, 
Is  waiting  them  now, 
And  chaplets  unfading 
Shall  bind  every  brow, 
When  called  by  the  trumpet, 
At  Time's  great  review, 
They  stand,  who  defended 
The  Red,  White,  and  Blue." 

THE  END. 


243 


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